depopulation
dee-pop-yoo-LAY-shuhn
/ˌdiː.pɒp.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/
A substantial reduction in the population of an area.
Connotes an acute or ongoing decline in residents leaving an area hollowed out or economically weakened.
The story behind the word. Combines the Latin prefix 'de-' (indicating removal or reversal) with 'populus' (people). Used historically to describe the emptying of towns during plagues or wars.
Word relationships
- hollowing out: Hollowing out emphasizes loss of vital economic structure alongside population loss, whereas depopulation is the numerical count reduction.
- population growth: Population growth signifies an increase in residents rather than a decrease.
Commonly confused with
- desolation: Desolation implies ruin and emptiness from destruction, whereas depopulation focuses specifically on demographic decline.
Word family
- depopulate (verb): To significantly reduce the population of a region.
Collocations
- rural depopulation
- severe depopulation
- depopulation crisis
Example sentences
- "The rapid depopulation of mountainous villages left schoolhouses empty and local farms abandoned." Modern demography study on rural areas
Memory hook
DE- means away/remove, POPULATION means people: removing the population. Emptying out.
When not to use
Do not use to describe temporary seasonal vacation departures.
Fun facts
- Some European nations now offer houses for one euro in remote towns to combat acute rural depopulation.
Related words
Explore more words
depletion, deplete, densely-populated, deforest, desolate, desolation
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