What is decimated definition?

A term that originated from the Latin word decimatus, meaning "to take a tenth", decimated refers to the act of reducing or destroying something by a significant amount, usually 90% or more. In the context of historical and military events, decimation referred to a punishment in which every tenth person in a group was killed as a means to maintain discipline and control. Today, the term is commonly used to describe a significant and severe reduction in numbers, quality, or functionality of something, such as a decimated population or a decimated computer system after a virus attack.