Depopulator

/ˌdiːˈpɒpjuleɪtər/ noun

Definition

A person, force, or thing that causes or brings about the depopulation of a region or place.

Etymology

From 'depopulate' plus the agent suffix '-or,' meaning 'one who depopulates.' Often used historically or metaphorically.

Kelly Says

Diseases can be unintentional depopulators—when Europeans brought smallpox to the Americas, they unknowingly became depopulators on a catastrophic scale, wiping out millions of indigenous people.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Rarely used, but when it appears, it can obscure the deliberate agency of those implementing displacement.

Inclusive Usage

If used, ensure it explicitly names the perpetrator of coercive depopulation.

Inclusive Alternatives

["agent of displacement","perpetrator of ethnic cleansing"]

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