debasement

[ dih-beys-muhnt ]

noun

1. the act of reducing the quality or value of something:

   The moment any paper currency is firmly linked back to gold, the debasement of paper money stops.

2. the fact or state of being lowered in dignity, character, or importance:

   Rich and greedy, he chose debasement, disgrace, and dishonorable practices in order to get even richer.

Other Words From

• self-de·base·ment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of debasement¹

debase ( def ) + -ment ( def )

Example Sentences

Most critical to understand here is the fate of information under surveillance capitalism and its debasement of journalism and journalists.

From Time

The two marry, but shapeless man must go through the rigors and debasements of boot camp, and when he’s deployed to Iraq as a medic, he witnesses horrors that shake him to the bone.

From Time