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deprive
/dɪˈpraɪv/
take away from
The new law will deprive citizens of their basic rights.
The law removes or takes away fundamental rights from the people.
formal
To take something away from someone or something, especially something essential or valuable.
The prisoner was deprived of food for three days.
The prisoner was not given food for three days.
Years of drought deprived the village of water.
The lack of rain for many years meant the village had no access to water.
Often used in contexts involving rights, necessities, or privileges. Can imply a deliberate act or an unavoidable circumstance.
Pro Tip
Use with 'of'
Always use 'deprive' with the preposition 'of' to indicate what is being taken away, e.g., 'deprive someone of freedom.'
Gold Rule
Avoid literal misuse
Do not use 'deprive' to mean simply 'remove' in a neutral context. It implies a negative consequence or injustice, e.g., 'The storm deprived the town of electricity' (not 'The repair deprived the town of electricity').
Word Origin
From Middle English depriven, from Old French depriver, from Latin dēprīvāre (to remove, take away), from de- (away) + prīvāre (to rob, deprive).
Usage Notes
Commonly used in formal or serious contexts, such as legal, medical, or social discussions. Avoid using it casually to mean simply 'remove'—it carries a stronger sense of loss or injustice.
Word Breakdown
de-
prefix meaning 'away' or 'down from'
prefixprīvāre
Latin root meaning 'to rob' or 'deprive'
rootEnglish Dictionary