What does depressed mean?
Depressed is an adjective with two principal uses: one emotional, one physical. In its dominant modern sense, it describes a person experiencing deep sadness, hopelessness, or loss of interest — particularly when these feelings are persistent enough to constitute clinical depression. Because of this medical association, calling someone 'depressed' is generally more serious than describing them as merely sad or unhappy. In its older, literal sense, depressed means pressed down or sunk below a surrounding level, as in a depressed fracture on a skull or a depressed patch of ground. A related figurative use appears in economics, where a depressed market or region suffers weak activity or prosperity. The word derives from Latin deprimere, meaning to press down, and its family includes depress, depression, and depressive. Its range — from geology to medicine to economics — makes it a versatile but weighty term whose tone depends heavily on context.
In a state of unhappiness or despondency, especially as a symptom of depression; also pressed down or lower than the surrounding surface.
"The doctor asked how long she had felt depressed."
The emotional sense often implies clinical depression rather than transient sadness.
(Economics) Characterized by reduced economic activity or prosperity.
"Government investment was targeted at economically depressed regions."
The same word that names a mood also names a dent in a car door — 'depressed' literally means 'pressed down,' whether it's your spirits or a button.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of depressed
Depressed comes from the Latin verb deprimere, formed from de- ('down') and premere ('to press'), giving the literal sense 'pressed down.' English adopted the past participle form via Old French depresser and Anglo-Latin in the late Middle Ages, first applying it physically to things pressed or sunk down before extending it figuratively to lowered spirits by the early seventeenth century. It shares its root premere with a wide family of English words including compress, express, suppress, impress, and pressure.
Related word forms
How depressed is actually used
When referring to mental health, 'depressed' carries significant weight and is often distinguished from everyday sadness — saying someone is 'depressed' can imply a diagnosable condition, so context matters. The economic sense ('depressed prices', 'depressed areas') is more formal and common in journalism and economics.
Easily confused with depressed
'Repressed' means suppressed or held back (especially emotions or memories), while 'depressed' means sad, dejected, or physically pressed down.