English Explanatory Dictionary

degradation

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The act of reducing in rank, character, or reputation, or of abasing; a lowering from one's standing or rank in office or society
  2. The state of being reduced in rank, character, or reputation; baseness; moral, physical, or intellectual degeneracy; disgrace; abasement; debasement.
  3. Diminution or reduction of strength, efficacy, or value; degeneration; deterioration.
  4. A gradual wearing down or wasting, as of rocks and banks, by the action of water, frost etc.
  5. A deleterious change in the chemical structure, physical properties or appearance of a material from natural or artificial exposure.
  6. The state or condition of a species or group which exhibits degraded forms; degeneration.
  7. Arrest of development, or degeneration of any organ, or of the body as a whole.
  8. The gradual breakdown of components of a material, as a result of a natural element, i.e.: heat, cold and wind.

Pronunciation

/ˌdɛɡɹəˈdeɪʃən/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Mélange a trois-degradation.wav

Word forms

degradation degradations

Etymology

From French dégradation. Morphologically degrade + -ation.

Synonyms

abasement debauchment depravement perversion adulteration corruption debasement defilement depravation impurification pollution profanation worsening aggravation degeneration degradation deterioration devolution embasement exacerbation ruining withering wrecking

Related words

decomposition comedown

Derived words

antidegradation autodegradation Curtius degradation degradational Edman degradation Hofmann degradation hydrodegradation immunodegradation land degradation neurodegradation nondegradation overdegradation photo-degradation photodegradation phytodegradation predegradation psychodegradation thermodegradation
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