degeneracy

American  

[dih-jen-er-uh-see] / dɪˈdʒɛn ər ə si /

noun

1. degenerate state or character.

2. the process of degenerating; decline.

3. degenerate behavior, especially behavior considered sexually deviant.

4. Physics. the number of distinct quantum states of a system that have a given energy.

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degeneracy British  

/ dɪˈdʒɛnərəsɪ /

noun

1. the act or state of being degenerate

2. the process of becoming degenerate

3. physics the number of degenerate quantum states of a particular orbital, degree of freedom, energy level, etc

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Other Word Forms

• nondegeneracy noun
• predegeneracy noun
• undegeneracy noun

Etymology

Origin of degeneracy

First recorded in 1655–65; degener(ate) + -acy

Example Sentences

Las Vegas took your money with gracious respect for your degeneracy, gouging you sweetly and slowly.

From Slate • Nov. 18, 2025

Mr. Whigham is in his actorly wheelhouse, moral degeneracy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025

When the scientists saw the lifting of Kramers spin degeneracy, accompanied by the vanishing net magnetisation, they knew they were looking at an altermagnet.

From Science Daily • Feb. 14, 2024

Normally a quantum mechanical property called degeneracy pressure makes the electrons resist compression, adding support to the core.

From Scientific American • Nov. 10, 2023

Poetry was a symptom of weakness, of degeneracy and decay.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck