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

The report also highlighted persistent but overlooked levels of forest degradation, where land is damaged but not razed entirely, mostly owing to logging, road building and fires lit to clear land.

Read more on Barron's

Scientists also warned that tipping points in the Amazon were closer than previously thought, and "widespread dieback" and large-scale forest degradation was a risk even below 2C of global warming.

Read more on Barron's

The resulting encapsulated particles not only remained stable but also showed greater antioxidant activity than the uncoated extract, suggesting that this process helps protect the bioactive ingredients from degradation.

Read more on Science Daily

There was once an elaborate process for excluding someone from being a member of the Order of the Garter, known as "degradation".

Read more on BBC

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

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• degeneration 
• deterioration