depreciate
Say it: dih-PREE-shee-ayt /dɪˈpriʃieɪt/ · verb
What “depreciate” means
Become worth less over time.
More precisely: To lose value over time.
Example: “A new car depreciates the moment you drive it off the lot.”
When to use it
When discussing how possessions or business assets lose value as they age. It is common in financial and everyday conversations.
Similar words
devalue, decline, lose value
Where it comes from
From Latin pretium, "price."
Quick check
A camera bought several years ago now sells for much less, although it still works. What has it done?
depreciate or appreciate?
Show the answer
depreciate
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