Logo
dictionary thesaurus

depauperate

adjective
de·​pau·​per·​ate | \ di-ˈpȯ-pə-rət How to pronounce depauperate (audio) \

Definition of depauperate

1 : falling short of natural development or size
2 : impoverished a depauperate fauna

Examples of depauperate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 Anything in the Asclepias genus will feed the monarch’s caterpillars, which badly need the food in the large, milkweed-depauperate migration states of the Midwest. — Molly Marquand, Good Housekeeping, "15 Native Wildflowers Every Gardener Should Plant," 5 May 2017 Anything in the Asclepias genus will feed the monarch’s caterpillars, which badly need the food in the large, milkweed-depauperate migration states of the Midwest. — Molly Marquand, Good Housekeeping, "15 Native Wildflowers Every Gardener Should Plant," 5 May 2017

First Known Use of depauperate

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for depauperate

Middle English depauperat, from Medieval Latin depauperatus, past participle of depauperare to impoverish, from Latin de- + pauperare to impoverish, from pauper poor — more at poor

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

cantankerous

play

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!