deindustrialize

especially British; de·in·dus·tri·al·ise
Or de-in·dus·tri·al·ize

[dee-in-duhs-tree-uh-lahyz]

verb (used with object)

deindustrialized, deindustrializing 

1. to cause to lose industrial capability or strength; make less industrial in character or emphasis.

2. to deprive (a conquered nation) of the means or potential for industrial growth.

verb (used without object)

deindustrialized, deindustrializing 

1. to lose industrial capability or character; become deindustrialized.

deindustrialize

/ ˌdiːɪnˈdʌstrɪəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to reduce the importance of manufacturing industry in the economy of (a nation or area)

2. (intr) (of a nation or area) to undergo reduction in the importance of manufacturing industry in the economy

Other Word Forms

• deindustrialization noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of deindustrialize¹

First recorded in 1880–85; de- + industrialize

Example Sentences

Wednesday afternoon on Twitter, now known as X, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones wrote that the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires have been engineered by “globalists” in order to “deindustrialize” the United States.

Read more on Slate

Are they going to willingly deindustrialize to fit a U.S. policy of global domination?

Read more on Salon

“This is not a plan to decarbonize the Australian economy but rather a plan to deindustrialize it,” O’Brien said.

Read more on Seattle Times

European and Asian media routinely mention the United States and China in the same breath, with both framed as selfish superpowers whose policies threaten to hollow out or “deindustrialize” other nations.

Read more on Washington Post

I watched the shoreline deindustrialize from waterfront developments to pristine forests.

Read more on Washington Post