Decimation: meaning, definitions and examples

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decimation

 

[ หŒdษ›sษชหˆmeษชสƒษ™n ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

historical context

Decimation originally referred to a particular form of military punishment used in the Roman army, where one soldier in every ten was executed by their comrades. This was intended to discipline or deter rebellious units and was a brutal method of maintaining order. In modern usage, decimation has come to mean the act of destroying or removing a large part of something, often used in contexts such as population, habitats, or resources. It carries a connotation of significant, often devastating reduction, and is applied in scenarios relating to warfare, natural disasters, and epidemics.

Synonyms

annihilation, destruction, devastation, extermination.

Examples of usage

  • The decimation of the population due to the plague was catastrophic.
  • Environmentalists warn of the decimation of natural habitats by urban development.
  • The ancient practice of decimation was used to punish mutineers in Roman legions.
  • The decimation of the species was highlighted as an urgent issue in the conservation report.

Translations

Translations of the word "decimation" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น decimaรงรฃo

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคจเคพเคถ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Dezimierung

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ dekimasi

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะดะตั†ะธะผะฐั†ั–ั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ decyzja

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅ้€ฒๆณ•

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท dรฉcimation

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ decimaciรณn

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท decimasyon

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์‹ญ์ง„๋ฒ•

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฅุจุงุฏุฉ ุฌู…ุงุนูŠุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ dezimace

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ dezimรกcia

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅ่ฟ›ๅˆถ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ decimacija

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ decimierung

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะพะฝะดั‹า›ั‚ะฐัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ“แƒ”แƒชแƒ˜แƒ›แƒแƒชแƒ˜แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ decimasiya

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ decimaciรณn

Etymology

The word 'decimation' is derived from the Latin term 'decimatio', which means 'removal of a tenth'. It was formed from 'decimus', meaning 'tenth', an instance of the larger historical and military practice where a punitive measure involved choosing every tenth soldier for execution as a means of disciplinary action. The practice was notably used by commanders addressing mutinies within their ranks. Over time, especially in the 16th century, its meaning expanded beyond the military to denote the large-scale destruction or reduction of anything, whether populations or resources, particularly in contexts of violence or disaster. The evolution of the term reflects a growing acknowledgment of the serious implications of widespread loss and destruction in various spheres of life.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,189 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.