What is the Latin word for devastation?

The usual Latin words for “devastation” are vāstātiō, populātiō, dēpopulātiō; also ager, ēversiō, excidium. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“devastation” in Latin

vāstātiōdesolating, ravaging, devastation populātiōthe act of laying waste or plundering; plunder, booty; destruction, devastation, corruption, ruin dēpopulātiōmarauding, pillaging, sacking, plundering agerfield; acre; land; estate; park; territory ēversiōexpulsion; destruction; revolution excidiumdemolition, destruction (especially military), ruin; massacre, slaughter, killing

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

devastation

vastatio: populatio, depopulatio (e.g., agrorum, aedium sacrarum [SYN. of verbs in DEVASTATE]: eversio: excidium (destruction of a town, etc.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for devastation?: The usual Latin words for “devastation” are vāstātiō, populātiō, dēpopulātiō; also ager, ēversiō, excidium. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.