deprivation
dep-ruh-VAY-shun
/ˌdeprɪˈveɪʃn/
The damaging lack or denial of basic material, social, or cultural necessities.
Implies severe hardship caused by being stripped of essential resources, rather than minor inconvenience.
The story behind the word. From Medieval Latin 'deprivatio', from 'deprivare' (to strip of office or property). It entered Middle English to describe stripping individuals of legal rights or property.
Word relationships
- hardship: Hardship refers to suffering general difficulties; deprivation emphasizes being deprived of specific vital needs.
- destitution: Destitution is total extreme poverty without any resources, whereas deprivation can focus on specific missing needs.
- abundance: Abundance describes an ample quantity over and above basic necessity.
- affluence: Affluence denotes substantial wealth and economic comfort.
Commonly confused with
- deprivation vs depravity: Deprivation is the state of lacking essentials; depravity means moral corruption or wickedness.
Word family
- deprive (verb): To take something away from or prevent someone from having something.
- deprived (adjective): Lacking specified necessities or material comforts.
Collocations
- relative deprivation
- material deprivation
- sleep deprivation
- sensory deprivation
Example sentences
- "Multidimensional poverty indices measure severe material deprivation alongside income measures." Development economics
- "Prolonged sleep deprivation impairs cognitive processing and compromises immune function." Public health
Memory hook
DEPRIVE = PRIVATE stripping. Deprivation strips essentials away from you. Deprivation leaves vital needs empty.
When not to use
Do not use for mild, voluntary choices to abstain from luxury items.
Fun facts
- The sociology concept 'relative deprivation' explains why people feel poor when comparing themselves to neighbors, even if basic needs are met.
Related words
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