degeneracy

noun

de·​gen·​er·​a·​cy di-ˈjen-rə-sē 

-ˈje-nə-,

dē-

plural degeneracies

1

: the state of being degenerate

2

: the process of becoming degenerate

3

: sexual perversion

4

: the coding of an amino acid by more than one codon

Synonyms

• degradation
• deterioration
• declination
• decline
• descent
• decadence

Examples of degeneracy in a Sentence

the sad degeneracy of the old neighborhood into a slum

the degeneracy of the family into a gang of petty thieves

Recent Examples on the Web

Why subject your kids to degeneracy and violence? —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025

Trump has been tied to Epstein, and though there is no evidence exposing the president’s participation in Epstein’s acts of degeneracy, the question remains on the minds of many Americans — Was Trump complicit? —Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 July 2025

The nihilism, or the degeneracy, is coming straight from the White House. —Nina Bambysheva, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025

The document accused Jewish people of promoting white genocide and degeneracy. —John Bacon, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

degeneracy

noun

de·​gen·​er·​a·​cy di-ˈjen-(ə-)rə-sē 

plural degeneracies

: the state of being or process of becoming degenerate : degradation, debasement

Medical Definition

degeneracy

noun

de·​gen·​er·​a·​cy di-ˈjen-(ə-)rə-sē 

plural degeneracies

1

: the state of being degenerate

2

: the process of becoming degenerate

3

: sexual perversion

4

: the coding of an amino acid by more than one codon of the genetic code