decimate definition - Dictionary

Dictionary

dec·i·mate [ déssə màyt ] (past and past participle dec·i·mat·ed, present participle dec·i·mat·ing, 3rd person present singular dec·i·mates)

transitive verb

Definition:

1. destroy large proportion of something: to kill off or remove a large proportion of a group of people, animals, or things

2. almost destroy something: to inflict so much damage on something that it is seriously reduced in effectiveness

A boycott of products could decimate the industry.

3. kill one person in 10: to kill one out of every ten people in a group, especially in a body of mutinous soldiers ( archaic )

[Late 16th century. < Latin decimat-, past participle of decimare "take a tenth" < decimus (see decimal)]

dec·i·ma·tion [ dèssə máysh'n ] noun

dec·i·ma·tor noun

Word Usage


	The popular meaning of decimate, "to destroy," now predominates because the need for a word meaning "to kill one person in ten" has greatly diminished. Even so, the popular meaning is not accepted by everyone, and it is often better to use annihilate, exterminate, destroy, or devastate.