deterioration

American  

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

noun

• deteriorations
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• nondeterioration
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• deteriorations
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of deterioration

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

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Explanation

If something is in a state of deterioration, it's getting worse. A crumbling old house with a caved-in roof and foot-tall weeds growing through the deck is going through deterioration. Deterioration implies that things are falling apart: something once in good condition is now weakened, worn out, or otherwise in decline. Things often undergo deterioration because of neglect. Time also has a lot to do with deterioration. Museum curators are always worried about stopping the deterioration of their prized antiquities, like the ancient Egyptian mummies that should not be exposed to air.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

deterioration deteriorations

“This recovery has coincided with a sharp deterioration in maritime security as vessels remain exposed to attacks and insurance and freight costs have risen sharply,” said Giovanni Staunovo, commodities strategist for UBS.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

Both have previously been linked to protection against cardiovascular disease and neurodegeneration, the gradual deterioration of nerve cells that occurs in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2026

Higher total activity time, greater overall activity volume, and more time spent exercising vigorously were each associated with slower deterioration in both thinking abilities and movement symptoms.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026

“The summer’s buoyant mood has evaporated. The speed of this deterioration is alarming,” said Neil Bellamy, consumer insights director at GfK.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

The flight instructors mistakenly attributed the pilots’ deterioration to their praise of them, and likewise the pilots’ improvement to their criticism; both, however, were simply regressions to the more likely mean performance.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

She was asked about unexpected deteriorations among babies in the period she had worked in Chester, between April and September 2015.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2024

It is hard to imagine that the impending supply chain deteriorations won't exacerbate that problem, as will the ongoing disease of misinformation.

From Salon ● Nov. 22, 2021

Along with the deteriorations caused by age, weak adherence to safety standards, poor maintenance and corruption among enforcement bodies are all considered contributors to such disasters.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 20, 2021

Manufacturers reported longer lead times as trucking issues and capacity shortages led to what the survey said was one of the greatest deteriorations in vendor performance on record.

From Reuters ● Sep. 23, 2021

What strange abnormal deteriorations, physical and spiritual, must it not inevitably undergo?

From Robert Elsmere by Mrs. Humphry Ward

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Related Words

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

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