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 Word Forms

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

In Brazil, 2024 marked the highest level of emissions from forest degradation on record.

Read more on Science Daily

Rather remained adamant, even through reputational degradation, that the real threat to journalism wasn’t liberal bias or declining ratings, but the corrosive takeover of the fourth estate by corporate and ideological power.

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An evaluation of the grow site indicated alarming levels of environmental degradation, according to the NPS.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But when Brooker and Ali were talking about where the story ends, they discussed the consequences of how services have to expand infinitely and cause a degradation of everything.

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When culture stagnates, and the degradation of political life feeds back into that culture, it doesn’t merely stay the same; it degenerates into a hideous pastiche of itself.

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Related Words

• degeneration 
• deterioration