What does depilate mean?
To depilate is to remove hair from the body, particularly by methods that pull it out or dissolve it — such as waxing, sugaring, threading, or chemical creams — rather than simply cutting it off at the surface with a razor. The verb comes from the Latin depilare, formed from de- ('away') and pilus ('hair'), and it entered English in the early seventeenth century. Today it is a formal, somewhat clinical term, encountered most often in dermatology texts, cosmetic product descriptions, and discussions of grooming practices across cultures and history. Its everyday equivalents are the more casual verbs 'shave' and 'wax'. Related forms include the noun depilation (the act or result of removing hair) and the adjective and noun depilatory (a hair-removing substance). The shared Latin root pilus also survives, unexpectedly, in the word caterpillar. For writers seeking precision about cosmetic or medical hair removal, depilate offers an exact, established term.
verbTo remove hair from the body or a part of the body, especially by chemical, cosmetic, or other non-cutting means.
- To remove hair from the body or a part of the body, typically by waxing, chemicals, or other cosmetic methods rather than shaving.
"Athletes often depilate their legs to reduce drag and make massage therapy more comfortable."
"Swimmers routinely depilate their arms and legs in pursuit of marginal gains in speed."
"In ancient Egypt, both men and women depilated using sugaring pastes and pumice stones."
The humble caterpillar owes its name to the same Latin root for 'hair' as depilate — it was thought to be hairy like a little cat.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of depilate
Depilate derives from the Latin verb depilare, meaning to strip of hair, itself built from the prefix de- ('away, off') plus pilus ('hair'). The word passed into English via Latin scholarly vocabulary in the early seventeenth century. It shares its root with the adjective and noun depilatory and, more distantly, with words such as pile (the raised fuzz on velvet) and caterpillar, whose name reflects a folk comparison between the insect's hairs and those of a cat.
Related word forms
How depilate is actually used
Formal and clinical in register; everyday speech favors 'shave', 'wax', or 'remove hair'. The word appears most often in medical, dermatological, and beauty-industry writing.
Easily confused with depilate
Defoliate means to remove leaves from a plant, whereas depilate means to remove hair from the body.