deterioration

American  

[dih-teer-ee-uh-rey-shuhn] / dɪˌtɪər i əˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of deteriorating.

2. the state or condition of having deteriorated.

3. a gradual decline, as in quality, serviceability, or vigor.

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Other Word Forms

• nondeterioration noun

Etymology

Origin of deterioration

1650–60; < Late Latin dēteriōrātiōn- (stem of dēteriōrātiō ), equivalent to dēteriōrāt ( us ) ( deteriorate ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

In Meta’s case, the firm expects “healthy” revenue above consensus estimates and second-quarter guidance that likely brackets consensus, assuming no further deterioration in the macroeconomic environment.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

Adding to the industry’s problems are signs of deterioration on the loans that private-credit firms originated in recent years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

The U.S. economy was in a vulnerable state before the war and will experience further deterioration in coming months, said Brian Bethune, an economist at Boston College.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 28, 2026

She believes with proper observations, the deterioration in her health might have been spotted.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

“I didn’t expect fundamental deterioration in the underlying mortgage pools to hit critical levels for a couple years,” he said—when the teaser rates would vanish and monthly payments would skyrocket.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

• decline
• degradation
• depreciation
• devaluation
• disintegration
• dislocation
• downturn
• slump
• worsening