degeneration
Americannoun
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the process of degenerating.
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the condition or state of being degenerate.
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Pathology.
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a process by which a tissue deteriorates, loses functional activity, and may become converted into or replaced by other kinds of tissue.
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the condition produced by such a process.
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noun
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the process of degenerating
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the state of being degenerate
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biology the loss of specialization, function, or structure by organisms and their parts, as in the development of vestigial organs
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impairment or loss of the function and structure of cells or tissues, as by disease or injury, often leading to death (necrosis) of the involved part
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the resulting condition
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electronics negative feedback of a signal
Other Word Forms
- nondegeneration noun
Etymology
Origin of degeneration
First recorded in 1475–85, degeneration is from the Late Latin word dēgenerātiōn- (stem of dēgenerātiō ). See de-, generation
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.
Apellis has two approved drugs: Empaveli, which is approved to treat two rare kidney diseases, and Syforvre, which is used by patients with geographic atrophy, an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026
Using a well-established fruit fly model, the research team discovered that a neuron's resistance to degeneration is closely tied to how it processes sugar.
From Science Daily • Jan. 27, 2026
Vivien Hillgrove, writer, producer and first-time director on this film, was enjoying a 50-year career of movie editing when she started losing her sight to a form of macular degeneration.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026
Researchers are now launching a new clinical trial that could offer hope to people with advanced dry age-related macular degeneration.
From Science Daily • Jan. 9, 2026
“I think I’m going to play it safe and go read—and, hey, there’s Ruby! You two can enjoy the degeneration of human decency without me.”
From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
