degradation

[ deg-ruh-dey-shuhn ]

/ ˌdɛg rəˈdeɪ ʃən /

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noun

the act of degrading.

the state of being degraded.

Physical Geography. the wearing down of the land by the erosive action of water, wind, or ice.

Chemistry. the breakdown of an organic compound.

OTHER WORDS FOR degradation

2 humiliation, disgrace, dishonor, debasement.

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QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of degradation

1525–35; <Late Latin dēgradātiōn- (stem of dēgradātiō), equivalent to dēgradāt(us) (past participle of dēgradāre to degrade) + -iōn--ion

OTHER WORDS FROM degradation

deg·ra·da·tion·al, adjectivedeg·ra·da·tive, adjectivean·ti·deg·ra·da·tion, adjectivenon·deg·ra·da·tion, noun

self-deg·ra·da·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use degradation in a sentence

Wildlife harvesting, peat wildfires, and habitat degradation are three things that really affect the peatlands, but they’re all more likely to happen in countries with fewer resources.
Conserving tropical peatlands could be key to preventing the next pandemic|Kat Eschner|November 17, 2020|Popular-Science
Using the battery to provide multiple services could optimize the income generated, though this would of course have to be balanced against the faster degradation of the battery.
To make batteries a better investment, let them do more|Scott K. Johnson|November 5, 2020|Ars Technica
I didn’t want to cast my votes for an industry that made an outsized contribution to climate change and environmental degradation, and was directly responsible for an immense amount of human and animal suffering.
The Beginner's Guide to Hunting|Ian Fohrman|October 30, 2020|Outside Online
He found no degradation of ability across multiple different materials.
What You Need to Know About Wearing a Face Mask Outside|Joe Lindsey|September 30, 2020|Outside Online

Each item is dishwasher safe and chip-resistant, so you won’t have to worry about any degradation over time.
Gear to make every day feel like National Coffee Day|PopSci Commerce Team|September 29, 2020|Popular-Science

British Dictionary definitions for degradation

degradation

/ (ˌdɛɡrəˈdeɪʃən) /

noun

the act of degrading or the state of being degraded

a state of degeneration, squalor, or poverty

some act, constraint, etc, that is degrading

the wearing down of the surface of rocks, cliffs, etc, by erosion, weathering, or some other process

chem a breakdown of a molecule into atoms or smaller molecules

physics an irreversible process in which the energy available to do work is decreased

RC Church the permanent unfrocking of a priest

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

degradation

OTHER WORDS FOR degradation

Origin of degradation

OTHER WORDS FROM degradation

Words related to degradation

How to use degradation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for degradation