debasement

American  

[dih-beys-muhnt] / dɪˈbeɪs mənt /

noun

1. the act of reducing the quality or value of something.

   The moment any paper currency is firmly linked back to gold, the debasement of paper money stops.

2. the fact or state of being lowered in dignity, character, or importance.

   Rich and greedy, he chose debasement, disgrace, and dishonorable practices in order to get even richer.

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Other Word Forms

• self-debasement noun

Etymology

Origin of debasement

debase ( def. ) + -ment ( def. )

Example Sentences

“We are transitioning from strictly a debasement inflationary environment to one that is more balanced between scarcity and debasement,” Gleich said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

Related concerns tied to dollar debasement, meanwhile, have amplified gains in precious metals and commodities, while triggering a meltdown in Bitcoin prices.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

“That all looks to me much more like a reflation trade than a debasement trade,” Pasquariello said, referring to the prospect for a fiscal boost in Japan and the recent talk of waning dollar attractiveness.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 16, 2026

Over and over, Colin takes stock of his own debasement.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026

When other entrepreneurs created jukeboxes by arranging for a phonograph to play popular music at the drop of a coin, Edison objected to this debasement, which apparently detracted from serious office use of his invention.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond