depopulate
pronunciation
How to pronounce depopulate in British English:
UK [ˌdi:ˈpɒpjuleɪt]
How to pronounce depopulate in American English:
US [ˌdiˈpɑpjuleɪt]
-
- Verb:
- reduce in population
Word Origin
- depopulate (v.)
- 1540s; see de- + populate. Perhaps from Latin depopulatus, past participle of depopulari "to lay waste, ravage." Related: Depopulated; depopulating. Earlier in same sense was dispeplen (early 15c.).
Example
- 1. What better way to depopulate than to let nature do it after you convince most people the opposite is going to happen ?