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.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nondeterioration
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• deteriorations
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of deterioration

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

---

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

Neurodegenerative diseases involve the progressive deterioration of nerve cells, as occurs in conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026

OTTAWA—The deterioration of cross-border U.S.-Canada trade ties and continued Middle East tension has led to a sharp uptick in inflation expectations among Canadian firms, according to a quarterly business-outlook survey from the Bank of Canada.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026

He said he’s seen enough overall deterioration in the market to believe the intermediate-term trend is weakening.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

Beth Dobbin is so determined to raise awareness of the illness that has decimated her life that she is speaking out, despite knowing it could trigger a brutal deterioration in her health.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

But a decade later, the rapidly growing prison population inevitably led to a deterioration in the conditions of confinement.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

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

The index’s 44% climb from its March 23 low stands in contrast to sharp deteriorations in gross domestic product and other economic indicators as a result of nationwide lockdowns, which are now easing.

From Reuters ● Jun. 8, 2020

Nay, are the suggested improvements of that teaching really gross deteriorations?

From The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 6 (of 12) Dresden Edition?Discussions by Robert Green Ingersoll

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

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

---