degradation

American  

[deg-ruh-dey-shuhn] / ˌdɛg rəˈdeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of degrading.

2. the state of being 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.

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degradation British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-degradation
  noun
• degradative
  adjective
• nondegradation
  noun
• degradational
  adjective
• antidegradation
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of degradation

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

Explanation

Degradation is the act of lowering something or someone to a less respected state. A president resigning from office is a degradation. It’s also a downcast state. Once the president has resigned, he might feel degradation. The noun degradation is related to the verb degrade, which comes from the Latin degradare. Degradare comes from de-, meaning “down,” and gradus, meaning "step." You can think of a degradation as a step down, or feeling as though you’re a step below.

Example Sentences

The Aravallis' degradation will affect all of northern India, experts say.

From Barron's • May 31, 2026

The question, experts say, is whether officials can somehow deal with the dangerous chemicals in a way that does not end in a blast or the type of spill that causes environmental degradation.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026

"This protein really targets RNA for rapid degradation," says Kirkwood, who has spent decades studying obesity, aging, oral inflammation, periodontal disease, and oral cancer progression.

From Science Daily • May 19, 2026

The population had been falling for years; the words "inner city" were regarded as a mark of degradation.

From BBC • May 17, 2026

In my mind’s eye I saw reduced to soot all those wonderful books, which had revealed to me other ways of living, which had sustained me in a world of degradation.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

Related Words

• degeneration
• deterioration