dépeupler

Senses

1. 1.

   to depopulate

   to reduce or remove the population from a place

2. 2.

   to empty out

   to cause (a place) to become deserted or nearly empty

Examples

• "La guerre a dépeu­plé la région pendant plusieurs années."

  The war depopulated the region for several years.

• "L'exode rural dépeu­ple les villages de montagne."

  Rural exodus is emptying out mountain villages.

• "Les fermetures d'usines ont dépeu­plé la ville."

  Factory closures have emptied the city of residents.

Usage

A formal or literary verb, typically used with geographical or administrative contexts. Often passive or pronominal (se dépeupler). Common collocations include dépeupler une région, dépeupler un pays. Not used in everyday conversation without a specific serious cause.