deprecation

American  

[dep-ri-key-shuhn] / ˌdɛp rɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of expressing earnest disapproval.

   Any omissions represent only a lack of information rather than a bias against or deprecation of the omitted product.

2. the act or process of belittling or disparaging; depreciation.

   The story painfully details the alternating deprecation and outright abuse the author suffered.

3. the act or process of protesting against something.

   The movie would be funnier if it weren’t predicated on stereotypical male deprecation of the celebration of matrimony.

4. Computers. the act or process of no longer supporting the use of a function, value, feature, etc., in software, but not removing the capability immediately, so as to allow for continued compatibility for a period of time.

   The software allows for the deprecation of certain features in the long run as they prove to be of less value.

---

Etymology

Origin of deprecation

First recorded in 1550–1560 in a different sense; from Old French, from Latin dēprecātiōn-, stem of dēprecātiō; see origin at deprecate ( def. )

Explanation

When you express your extreme disapproval of something, that's deprecation. Your health teacher's deprecation of sugary snacks may change your eating habits — or it might just make you feel a little guilty for enjoying your jelly beans. Deprecation can take many forms, from a blistering opinion piece in the newspaper criticizing a political figure to your mom's subtle facial expression that tells you she wishes you'd worn a clean shirt to church. Self-deprecation is when you criticize yourself or put yourself down. A more old-fashioned meaning of this word is "a prayer to avert evil," from the Latin deprecari, "to avert by prayer" or "to pray away."

Example Sentences

The relevant statute allows only tariffs that “deal with large and serious United States balance-of-payments deficits,” “prevent an imminent and significant deprecation of the dollar,” or facilitate an international agreement to correct a “balance-of-payments disequilibrium.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

"I am deeply disappointed that someone has decided to be this horrible when they must certainly know it's actually self deprecation."

From BBC • Jun. 20, 2025

"As companies face difficulties, appropriate yuan deprecation will help boost their competitiveness," Zong Liang, chief researcher at state-owned Bank of China, told Reuters.

From Reuters • May 17, 2022

So we’re moving away from cookies and there’s this whole deprecation of cookies and what that’s going to mean for advertisers.

From The Verge • Dec. 15, 2020

Or perhaps rarely Wang Lung would say, “This is a good dish of noodles,” and O-lan would answer in deprecation, “It is good flour we have this year from the fields.”

From "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck