deprive
Americanverb (used with object)
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to remove or withhold something from the enjoyment or possession of (a person or persons).
to deprive a man of life; to deprive a baby of candy.
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to remove from ecclesiastical office.
verb
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(foll by of) to prevent from possessing or enjoying; dispossess (of)
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archaic to remove from rank or office; depose; demote
Related Words
See strip 1.
Other Word Forms
- deprivable adjective
- deprival noun
- deprivative adjective
- depriver noun
- nondeprivable adjective
- predeprive verb (used with object)
- self-depriving adjective
Etymology
Origin of deprive
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English depriven, from Anglo-French, Old French depriver, from Medieval Latin dēprīvāre, equivalent to Latin dē- de- + prīvāre “to deprive” ( prīv(us) private + -āre infinitive suffix)
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.
In the U.S., any inflation uptick could deprive investors of more interest-rate cuts.
From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026
Anything less would deprive them of due process and nullify the Convention Against Torture.
From Slate • Feb. 28, 2026
Lemon, 59, was charged with conspiracy to deprive rights and interfering with religious freedoms by allegedly obstructing someone's First Amendment rights by force.
From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026
“Ultimately, these delays deprive families of closure,” said National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins, whose organization helps taxpayers resolve problems with the agency.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026
I couldn’t deprive Kutti of the chance to taste rich people’s food.
From "The Bridge Home" by Padma Venkatraman
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.
