decimation
/dɛsɪˈmeɪʃ(ə)n
/noun [mass noun]
1The killing or destruction of a large proportion of a group or species: our growing hunger for fish has resulted in the decimation of fish stocks the decimation of our rainforests...
- Today I read that we are facing the biggest decimation of species in the history of the planet.
- In 1853 Perry was greeted with an earthquake centered right in the city, causing further decimation.
- In response to a planned mining operation that would have resulted in severe environmental decimation, he campaigned for and created the first community managed forest preserve.
1.1A drastic reduction in the strength or effectiveness of something: we need to halt the decimation of this country’s manufacturing base economic and financial decimation from two world wars...
- The party started a consultation with its grass roots last night in a bid to rebuild itself following its decimation in the general election.
- But patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel - especially a scoundrel facing electoral decimation within months!
- They say their ongoing dispute is no longer just about pay but also about preventing the decimation of Britain's fire service.
2 historical The killing of one in every ten of a group of people as a punishment for the whole group (originally with reference to a mutinous Roman legion).Antonius executed the decimation: he divided his men by ten legions, and then of them he put the tenth legion to death....
- This produced numerous field executions and the frequent use of decimation against undisciplined units.
- It is debatable whether decimation be a convenient mode of military execution.