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degression

American  
[dih-gresh-uhn] / dɪˈgrɛʃ ən /

noun

  1. a downward movement; descent.

  2. the decrease in rate in degressive taxation.


degression British  
/ dɪˈɡrɛʃən /

noun

  1. a decrease by stages

  2. a gradual decrease in the tax rate on amounts below a specified sum

"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

Etymology

Origin of degression

1375–1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin dēgressiōn- (stem of dēgressiō ) descent, equivalent to Latin degred- (stem of dēgredī to go down, descend; dē- de- + -gredī, combining form of gradī to step, walk) + -tiōn- -tion

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.

But he said the allegations about Mr. Weaver re-awakened his own “anger, shame and degression” at having been touched inappropriately by a Boy Scout leader when he was age 13.

From Washington Times

MEPs blithely ignored their advice in 2013, ahead of elections the following year, settling instead on a “pragmatic” division of seats that violated the principle of degression several times over; there were many examples of a bigger country having more MEPs per million citizens than the next biggest country or countries.

From Science Magazine

In addition Great Britain had "degression", a price-control measure which allowed for the reduction of the subsidy rate in response to demand and to close the scheme quickly.

From BBC

To return from this degression: it is concluded, from very ample experience, that cathartic medicines are of the greatest service, and ought to be considered as an indispensable remedy in cases of insanity.

From Project Gutenberg

Some of the best writers in the U.S. fell for or got bullied into Communism during the Degression '30s; a look at what they said and wrote, how they fellow-traveled through ideology to disillusionment.

From Time Magazine Archive