die-off

1 of 2

noun

: a sudden sharp decline of a population of animals or plants that is not caused directly by human activity

die off

2 of 2

verb

died off; dying off; dies off

intransitive verb

: to die sequentially either singly or in numbers so that the total number is greatly diminished

Examples of die-off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The changes led to seagrass die-offs and widespread invasion of sawgrass marshes by cattail and harmful algal blooms. John Kominoski, The Conversation, 15 Apr. 2025 Most officials linked the deaths to the die-off of seagrass in the lagoon that year, which many experts connect to polluted water. Stephanie Hanes, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
Species are dying off, sea levels are rising and extreme weather events are occurring more frequently. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025 Crown Bees Honeybees, which are tasked with pollinating many of the agricultural crops in the United States, are dying off in record numbers. Martha Ann Overland, NPR, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for die-off

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1936, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1697, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of die-off was in 1697

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Die-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/die-off. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

die-off

noun
ˈdī-ˌȯf
: a sudden sharp drop in the numbers of plants or animals in a group
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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