die-off

1 of 2

noun

ˈdī-ˌȯf How to pronounce die-off (audio)
: 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

ˈdī-ˈȯf How to pronounce die off (audio)
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
And rising ocean temperatures have caused large-scale coral bleaching and die-offs since 1997. — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 DeRisi told me how, a few years ago, there was a large die-off of leopard sharks in the San Francisco Bay. — Jason Liebowitz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
The other is beneath the large green leaves at the bottom of the plant, which, when lifted, show the bromeliad is dying off, Huffman said. — Charlotte Observer, 4 Sep. 2026 Winter injury can occur if the wound still hasn’t sealed once the first frosts arrive, and developing new growth can die off. — Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 4 Sep. 2026 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

Rhymes for die-off

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Browse Nearby Words

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die-off
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Cite this Entry

“Die-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/die-off. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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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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