To deprive someone of something means to take it away or prevent them from having it. When a teacher deprives students of recess because they misbehaved, she's removing something they normally get. When lack of sleep deprives you of energy, you're missing something you need to function well.

The word often appears with “of”: you deprive someone of their freedom, their opportunities, or their basic needs. A flooded basement might deprive a family of their belongings. Heavy fog might deprive pilots of visibility. Notice that deprive usually involves something important or valuable: you wouldn't say fog deprives you of a nice view, but you would say it deprives you of the ability to see where you're going.

Deprivation is the noun form, describing the state of lacking something essential. People might suffer sleep deprivation when they do not get enough rest. Children growing up in poverty face deprivation of resources that others take for granted.

The word carries weight because it suggests unfairness or hardship. When you're deprived of something, you notice its absence. A student deprived of lunch would feel hungry and distracted. A plant deprived of sunlight withers.