degradation

[ deg-ruh-dey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of degrading. degrade.
2. the state of being degraded. degraded.

   Synonyms: debasement, dishonor, disgrace, humiliation

3. Physical Geography. the wearing down of the land by the erosive action of water, wind, or ice.
4. Chemistry. the breakdown of an organic compound.

degradation

/ ˌdɛɡrəˈdeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of degrading or the state of being degraded
2. a state of degeneration, squalor, or poverty
3. some act, constraint, etc, that is degrading
4. the wearing down of the surface of rocks, cliffs, etc, by erosion, weathering, or some other process
5. chem a breakdown of a molecule into atoms or smaller molecules
6. physics an irreversible process in which the energy available to do work is decreased
7. RC Church the permanent unfrocking of a priest

Other Words From

• degra·dation·al adjective
• degra·dative adjective
• anti·degra·dation adjective
• nondeg·ra·dation noun
• self-degra·dation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of degradation¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Late Latin dēgradātiōn-, stem of dēgradātiō, from dēgradāt(us) “degraded” (past participle of dēgradāre; degrade ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

We lived through the degradation of public discourse and the normalization of blatant, unrepentant lying.

From Slate

We are told that we are the ones at fault for the degradation.

From Slate

“I’m getting less for my money,” he said, calling it an overall “degradation of service quality.”

From Los Angeles Times

Some feedstocks may need to be avoided, either to prevent environmental degradation such as deforestation, or to prevent land needed for growing food from being turned over to energy production.

From BBC

In 2022, a Times investigation found that California’s massive illegal marijuana market pushes legal growers toward financial ruin, exacerbates community violence, causes massive amounts of environmental degradation and forces laborers to toil in squalid and often dangerous conditions.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• degeneration
• deterioration