noun
decimation
Decimation (noun) means the killing or punishing of one person in every ten, usually chosen by lot.
noun
1
The killing or punishing of one person in every ten, usually chosen by lot.
2
The killing or destroying of a large part of a group of people.
3
A tithe or the act of tithing.
4
(computing) The making of a new list that keeps only every nth item from the original list.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like decimation.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin decimātiō, a punishment where every 10th man in a unit would be stoned to death by the men who were spared. Used by the Romans to keep order in their military. Compare septimation and vicesimation.
Rhymes for decimation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for decimation →
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of decimation?
"decimation" (noun) means the killing or punishing of one person in every ten, usually chosen by lot.
What are the different meanings of decimation?
"decimation" has 3 main meanings: 1. The killing or punishing of one person in every ten, usually chosen by lot; 2. The killing or destroying of a large part of a group of people; 3. A tithe or the act of tithing.
