degeneracy
Americannoun
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degenerate state or character.
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the process of degenerating; decline.
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degenerate behavior, especially behavior considered sexually deviant.
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Physics. the number of distinct quantum states of a system that have a given energy.
noun
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the act or state of being degenerate
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the process of becoming degenerate
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physics the number of degenerate quantum states of a particular orbital, degree of freedom, energy level, etc
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of degeneracy
First recorded in 1655–65; degener(ate) + -acy
Vocabulary lists containing degeneracy
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
It would be unfair to place the sole blame for the degeneracy of civil norms on one segment of the public.
From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2024
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
Poetry was a symptom of weakness, of degeneracy and decay.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
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