deterioration

American  

[dih-teer-ee-uh-rey-shuhn] / dɪˌtɪər i əˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of deteriorating.

2. the state or condition of having deteriorated.

3. a gradual decline, as in quality, serviceability, or vigor.

---

Other Word Forms

• nondeterioration noun

Etymology

Origin of deterioration

1650–60; < Late Latin dēteriōrātiōn- (stem of dēteriōrātiō ), equivalent to dēteriōrāt ( us ) ( deteriorate ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Instead, they have signaled the Fed is likely to leave rates where they are until either the labor market shows signs of outright deterioration or inflation declines.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

The U.S. economy was in a vulnerable state before the war and will experience further deterioration in coming months, said Brian Bethune, an economist at Boston College.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 28, 2026

"If we do the right thing early in the illness, and support people with the right level of pacing, you can prevent that deterioration in a lot of cases."

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

“Fed officials are likely to resume easing only for clear ‘good’ reasons—more rapid progress toward the 2% inflation target—or clear ‘bad’ reasons—a meaningful deterioration in labor market conditions,” he wrote.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

Yet genetic deterioration through man-made agents is the menace of our time, “the last and greatest danger to our civilization.”

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Related Words

• decline
• degradation
• depreciation
• devaluation
• disintegration
• dislocation
• downturn
• slump
• worsening