depreciate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'depreciate' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a transitive verb meaning to reduce in value over time. For example, you could say: "The value of the car depreciated quickly after I bought it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It makes sense for the national banks of these countries to let currencies depreciate to some extent to keep national competitiveness," he said.

The Guardian

But in 2014, the shock value of a woman masturbating – at least as a lyrical device – has at last begun to depreciate.

The Guardian - Music

Departments and ministries of non-English-speaking countries are lc, eg French ministry of the interior, Iraqi foreign ministry dependant noun; dependent adjective; dependence depositary person; depository place deprecate express disapproval; depreciate reduce in value.

The Guardian

– would "depreciate" her value.

The Guardian - Books

In order to wipe out the illicit trade the government allowed the pound to depreciate and placed restrictions on bank deposits and withdrawals in dollars.

The Economist

Today's economic problems are widespread and not all currencies can depreciate at once.

The Economist

The authorities allowed the peso to depreciate by only 12% in 2012 but let the currency drop by 33% in 2013.

The Economist

In the 20th century, European nations (including Russia) managed 16 defaults between them.A more subtle way of getting rid of at least part of your foreign debt is to allow your currency to depreciate.

The Economist

Even if it didn't retaliate, it might just depreciate its currency further to compensate for the effect of the import surcharges.

The Economist

If all the issuers of paper money want to see their currencies depreciate, then the only answer is to own an asset that central banks cannot debase namely, gold.

The Economist

The government has also liberalised its exchange-rate regime slightly, allowing the Egyptian pound to depreciate.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial matters, use "depreciate" to specifically refer to the decrease in an asset's value over time due to wear and tear, obsolescence, or market conditions.

Common error

Avoid using "depreciate" when you mean to express disapproval. "Deprecate" means to express disapproval of something, while "depreciate" means to decrease in value.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "depreciate" is as a verb, indicating an action of decreasing in value. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in English, demonstrating its role in describing financial and abstract devaluation processes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "depreciate" functions as a verb to describe a decrease in value, primarily in financial and economic contexts. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and frequently used. It appears most often in News & Media and Formal & Business sources. While the verb is primarily used in the context of finance, it can also denote abstract concepts, though less frequently. Remember to avoid confusing "depreciate" with the word "deprecate".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decline in value

Focuses specifically on the reduction of monetary worth.

lose worth

A more general term for decreasing value, applicable to both tangible and intangible assets.

diminish in price

Emphasizes the decrease in the monetary cost or price.

fall in value

Similar to 'decline in value', but may suggest a more sudden or rapid decrease.

reduce in price

Directly indicates lowering the cost of something.

lose value

A broad term for something becoming less valuable, not necessarily monetary.

decrease in importance

Shifts the focus from monetary value to significance or relevance.

become less significant

Similar to 'decrease in importance', but with a slightly broader application.

lower in estimation

Focuses on a decrease in subjective value or esteem.

undervalue

Suggests that something is not given its true worth or importance.

FAQs

How is "depreciate" used in financial contexts?

In finance, "depreciate" describes the reduction in an asset's value over time due to factors like wear and tear or obsolescence. It's commonly used in accounting and economics.

What's the difference between "depreciate" and "devalue"?

"Depreciate" typically refers to a gradual decrease in value over time, often due to wear or market forces. "Devalue", on the other hand, usually refers to a deliberate action by a government or central bank to lower the value of a currency.

Can "depreciate" be used in contexts other than finance?

Yes, although less common, "depreciate" can be used more broadly to mean to lessen the value or importance of something. However, financial contexts are its primary use.

What can I say instead of "the currency depreciated"?

You could say "the currency "lost value"", "the currency "declined in value"", or "the currency "fell in value"" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.