depersonalize
C1Formal, academic, clinical
Definition
Meaning
To deprive someone or something of its personal, individual, or human character; to treat something as impersonal or without human qualities.
To make an experience feel less personal or emotionally connected; to cause a loss of personal identity or a sense of unreality, often in a psychological or clinical context; to treat people in a standardized, anonymous way, as in bureaucratic or technological processes.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often has negative connotations of bureaucracy, psychological dissociation, or mechanistic treatment. In positive contexts, can be seen as necessary for objective analysis or clinical detachment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: British English often prefers 'depersonalise', though 'depersonalize' is also widely used. American English uses 'depersonalize' exclusively.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to its prevalence in psychological and corporate literature.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + object (e.g., The system depersonalizes patients.)[verb] + object + from + noun phrase (e.g., It depersonalizes the individual from the collective.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Describes removing the personal element from customer service through automated systems.
Academic
Used in psychology, sociology, and critical theory to describe processes that strip individuals of unique identity.
Everyday
Used rarely; when used, it describes feeling treated like a number, not a person.
Technical
Used in clinical psychology to describe a symptom of derealization or dissociation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Large call centres can depersonalise customer interactions.
- The aim was to depersonalise the complaints procedure.
American English
- Automated emails depersonalize communication with clients.
- The therapist warned against depersonalizing the patient's trauma.
adjective
British English
- The depersonalising effect of modern bureaucracy is profound.
American English
- She described a depersonalizing feeling of detachment during the event.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Modern technology can sometimes depersonalize our relationships.
- The new policy was criticized for depersonalizing the doctor-patient relationship and reducing trust.
- Critics argue that mass data collection serves to depersonalize citizens, transforming them into mere data points for algorithmic processing.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DE- (removing) + PERSONAL + -IZE (to make). To 'make' a situation 'not personal'.
Conceptual Metaphor
PEOPLE ARE NUMBERS/OBJECTS (when treated impersonally).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'personalize' (персонализировать) - they are opposites.
- Avoid translating as 'depress' (депрессировать) - no direct emotional state link.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'depersonalize' to mean 'to make someone feel sad' (confusion with 'depress').
- Misspelling as 'depersonalise' in American contexts.
- Confusing with 'dispersonalize' (non-existent word).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST example of 'depersonalization'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Depersonalize' focuses on removing individual character or making impersonal, often in bureaucratic or psychological contexts. 'Dehumanize' is stronger, implying the removal of essential human qualities like compassion or dignity, often in contexts of cruelty or extreme oppression.
Yes, though less common. In contexts like therapy, science, or justice, it can be positive to depersonalize criticism (focus on the issue, not the person) or to maintain professional objectivity.
Yes. In psychology, 'depersonalization' is a specific dissociative symptom where a person feels detached from their own thoughts, feelings, or body, as if they are an outside observer.
The primary noun form is 'depersonalization' (or 'depersonalisation' in UK spelling).