What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
devaluate
Example
The economic crisis caused the currency to devaluate rapidly. [devaluate: verb]
Example
The company's decision to use cheap materials caused the product to devaluate in quality. [devaluating: present participle]
depreciate
Example
The car depreciated in value after several years of use. [depreciated: past tense]
Example
The housing market crash caused property values to depreciate significantly. [depreciate: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Depreciate is more commonly used than devaluate in everyday language, especially in financial and economic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between devaluate and depreciate?
Both devaluate and depreciate are formal words, often used in technical or professional settings related to finance, economics, or business.