depredation
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
- depredationist noun
Etymology
Origin of depredation
1475–85; < Late Latin dēpraedātiōn- (stem of dēpraedātiō ) a plundering, equivalent to dēpraedāt ( us ) ( see depredate) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
The horrors of war include depredation — the plundering and ransacking of the defeated and their homes, the terrible, unrestrained preying on the conquered. The word depredation entails all of the pain humans inflict upon each other. The Latin language makes the noun praeda "prey" into the verb praedārī, which then means "to plunder." As if that wasn't enough — they added the prefix de-, "thoroughly," to create a word that says it all. In 15th-century French, the word became depredation, but the meaning was far from refined, describing a wholesale pillaging of those who became the "prey" and continuing the history of man’s inhumanity to man.
Vocabulary lists containing depredation
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Hobbit
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Scarlet Letter
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It is in the interest of the free world, including the U.S., that India become better able to defend itself against Chinese depredation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026
An emerging bright spot for Latin America could be Argentina, whose stocks are excluded from most indexes after years of economic depredation.
From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026
Owners of pets or livestock that are threatened or killed by cougars can get a depredation permit to destroy the predator.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 24, 2024
Kandula faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to a felony charge of depredation of government property.
From Seattle Times • May 13, 2024
He found many conflicting claims to the soil and a number of ancient communities, each with a vested right to depredation.
From The Earl of Mayo Rulers of India by Hunter, William Wilson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
