/ ˌdiːˈpɒpjuleɪt; NAmE -ˈpɑːp-/ verb
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] to reduce the number of people living in a place :
Whole stretches of land were laid waste and depopulated.
► de·popu·la·tion / ˌdiːˌpɒpjuˈleɪʃn; NAmE -ˌpɑːp-/ noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (in the sense ravage, lay waste ): from Latin depopulat- ravaged, from the verb depopulari , from de- completely + populari lay waste (from populus people).