deprived

American  

[dih-prahyvd] / dɪˈpraɪvd /

adjective

1. marked by deprivation; lacking the necessities of life, as adequate food and shelter.

   a deprived childhood.

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deprived British  

/ dɪˈpraɪvd /

adjective

1. lacking adequate food, shelter, education, etc

   deprived inner-city areas

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• undeprived
  adjective
• self-deprived
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of deprived

First recorded in 1545–55; deprive + -ed ²

Explanation

Being deprived means lacking important things like food and water. For example, when warm clothing, housing, and nutrition are in short supply, the people are deprived of basics of life. You can use the adjective deprived to describe conditions or people who don’t have what they need or don't have enough. Some uses of deprived are for small things, like when you're deprived of dessert because you didn’t eat your vegetables, but most of the time deprived describes a very serious lack of essential things or services.

Example Sentences

Scientists have long known that animals tend to crave protein-rich foods when deprived of protein, but exactly how the body senses this deficiency remained unclear.

From Science Daily • May 28, 2026

Stranded on foreign soil and deprived of weapons, the whalers became pawns in a standoff between nations whose dynamics and language they did not understand.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

This chili was born from a small personal challenge: spend less than $20 at the grocery store on a dinner that could stretch two nights for two people without anyone feeling remotely deprived.

From Salon • May 19, 2026

Thanks to the Ducks, the great Connor McDavid has once again been deprived of winning the Stanley Cup.

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2026

I did not relish being deprived of the company of my children.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• destitute
• disadvantaged
• dispossessed
• needy
• underprivileged