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

The themes of the debasement trade, the store of value, central banks’ accumulation and the diversification of reserves in the aftermath of the freezing of Russian assets in 2022 are all still applicable, he said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

“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

In this debt-currency debasement period, once again gold has been strong relative to major fiat currencies, most of which have debt problems.

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 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