Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense deposes, present participle deposing, past tense, past participle deposed
verb [usually passive]
If a ruler or political leader is deposed, they are forced to give up their position.
Mr Ben Bella was deposed in a coup in 1965. [beVERB-ed]
...the deposed dictator. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: oust, dismiss, displace, degrade More Synonyms of depose
More Synonyms of depose
depose in British English
(dɪˈpəʊz)
verb
1. (transitive)
to remove from an office or position, esp one of power or rank
2. law
to testify or give (evidence, etc) on oath, esp when taken down in writing; make a deposition
Derived forms
deposable (deˈposable)
adjective
deposer (deˈposer)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French deposer to put away, put down, from Late Latin dēpōnere to depose from office, from Latin: to put aside; see depone
depose in American English
(diˈpoʊz; dɪˈpoʊz)
verb transitiveWord forms: deˈposed or deˈposing
1.
to remove from office or a position of power, esp. from a throne; oust
2. Archaic
to lay down
3. Law
a.
to state or testify under oath but out of court
b.
to take the deposition of (a witness)
verb intransitive
4.
to bear witness
Derived forms
deposable (deˈposable)
adjective
Word origin
ME deposen, to deprive of office, testify < OFr deposer, to set down < de- (L de), from, away + poser (see pose1), to cease, lie down; confused in sense and form with L deponere (pp. depositus), to lay down, lay aside (in ML, testify): see deposit
Examples of 'depose' in a sentence
depose
Labour has only deposed a leader once in any circumstances.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
With all our mess, the luxury apartment resembled the palace of a deposed dictator just after liberation.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The Pakistani military were already preparing to greet the deposed leader and his entourage of aides and journalists.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
As days became weeks, there were confident assertions that he was dead or dying or deposed in a coup.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They prayed, waved flags, sang the rebel anthem and united in chants of mockery of the deposed dictator.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Thousands of activists were in jails across the country and, while they were colder and less comfortable than their deposed leader, they had the reassurance of numbers.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
depose
British English: depose VERB
If a ruler or political leader is deposed, they are forced to give up their position.
The president was deposed in a coup.
American English: depose
Brazilian Portuguese: depor
Chinese: 罢免
European Spanish: deponer
French: destituer
German: absetzen
Italian: deporre
Japanese: 退陣させる
Korean: 면직당하다
European Portuguese: depor
Latin American Spanish: deponer
1 (verb)
Definition
to remove from an office or position of power
The president was deposed in a coup.
Synonyms
oust
The leaders have been ousted from power by nationalists.
dismiss
the power to dismiss civil servants who refuse to work
displace
They displaced him in a coup.
degrade
He was degraded to a lower rank.
downgrade
His superiors downgraded him.
cashier
Many officers were cashiered on political grounds.
demote
If managers prove inefficient they should be demoted.
dethrone
The king was dethroned and went into exile.
remove from office
2 (verb)
Definition
to testify on oath
Synonyms
testify
Several eye witnesses testified that they had seen the fight.
declare
They declare that there is no lawful impediment to the marriage.
avouch
make a deposition
Additional synonyms
in the sense of avouch
Synonyms
vouch for,
state,
maintain,
declare,
guarantee,
allege,
acknowledge,
swear,
assert,
proclaim,
pronounce,
affirm,
profess,
avow,
aver,
asseverate (formal)
in the sense of cashier
Definition
to dismiss with dishonour from the armed forces
Many officers were cashiered on political grounds.
Synonyms
dismiss,
discharge,
expel,
cast off,
drum out,
give the boot to (slang)
in the sense of declare
Definition
to state firmly and forcefully
They declare that there is no lawful impediment to the marriage.