depopulate
/diːˈpɒpjʊleɪt
/verb [with object]
Substantially reduce the population of (an area): the disease could depopulate a town the size of Bournemouth...
- The valleys have not lost their character but agricultural and industrial changes have depopulated some areas and opened others to an influx of lowlanders seeking holiday and retirement homes.
- For much of the period 1920-1980, large parts of the northern coastal area were effectively depopulated.
- About 4,000 villages have been burnt and razed to the ground in an attempt to depopulate the area.
Origin
Mid 16th century (in the sense 'ravage, lay waste'): from Latin depopulat- 'ravaged', from the verb depopulari, from de- 'completely' + populari 'lay waste' (from populus 'people').