Decimation: meaning, definitions and examples

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.

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.