degradation

noun

deg·​ra·​da·​tion ˌde-grə-ˈdā-shən 

1

: the act or process of degrading

environmental degradation

the gradual degradation of organic matter

… nothing infuriates the female students more than the degradation of women that is associated with male sports …

—Scott Stossel

suffer the degradations of poverty and abuse

2

a

: decline to a low, destitute, or demoralized state

shocked by the hopeless degradation of the "poor whites"

—Edith Wharton

Some houses are found spotless, others in a wretched degradation …

—Paul Reyes

b

: moral or intellectual decadence : degeneration

educated him in the bestiality and degradation that war brings

—Drew Middleton

degradative

ˈde-grə-ˌdā-tiv 

adjective

Synonyms

• deterioration
• decline
• declination

Examples of degradation in a Sentence

English teachers bemoaning the degradation of the language that e-mail and instant messaging have allegedly brought about.

the belief that moral degradation is an unmistakable sign of a nation in decline

Recent Examples on the Web

The degradation of individual and societal health spirals downward while the most powerful controllers of the medical and pharmaceutical industries thrive. —David Marks, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2025

The degradation and genocide of Indigenous Americans on the mainland is widely known. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 1 Aug. 2025

For state transportation agencies, that means strengthening the road infrastructure through tools that can help to: • Prioritize repairs and replacements of road signage and infrastructure, based on the severity of degradation that could impact road conditions. —Mark Pittman, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025

Following stratification, soil sampling and analysis provide a detailed picture of existing conditions, including nutrient profiles, degradation levels, and biological activity. —Nia Bowers, USA Today, 29 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

see degrade

First Known Use

circa 1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for degradation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

degradation

noun

deg·​ra·​da·​tion ˌdeg-rə-ˈdā-shən 

1

a

: a reduction in rank, dignity, or standing

b

: removal from office

2

: loss of honor or reputation

3

: degeneration sense 1, deterioration

Medical Definition

degradation

noun

deg·​ra·​da·​tion ˌdeg-rə-ˈdā-shən 

: change of a chemical compound to a less complex compound

degradative

ˈdeg-rə-ˌdāt-iv 

adjective