degeneration

noun

de·​gen·​er·​a·​tion di-ˌje-nə-ˈrā-shən 

ˌdē-

1

: degenerate (see degenerate entry 1) condition

2

: a lowering of effective power, vitality, or essential quality to an enfeebled and worsened kind or state

the country's degeneration into chaos

… enacts the degeneration of politics into televisual entertainment …

—Linda Holt

3

: intellectual, moral, or artistic decline

Many of her stories show the degeneration of a principled person into a lethal one …

—Susannah Clapp

… argue that the tradition has radically devolved, and that books like "The Kiss," by Kathryn Harrison, represent the degeneration of a once ennobled form.

—Deborah E. McDowell

4

biology

a

: progressive deterioration of physical characters from a level representing the norm of earlier generations or forms

b

: deterioration of a tissue or an organ in which its function is diminished or its structure is impaired

a degeneration of cartilage

Synonyms

• decadence
• declension
• declination
• decline
• degeneracy
• degradation
• dégringolade
• descent
• deterioration
• devolution
• downfall
• downgrade
• ebb
• eclipse
• fall

Choose the Right Synonym for degeneration

deterioration, degeneration, decadence, decline mean the falling from a higher to a lower level in quality, character, or vitality.

deterioration implies generally the impairment of value or usefulness.

the deterioration of the house through neglect

degeneration stresses physical, intellectual, or especially moral retrogression.

the degeneration of their youthful idealism into cynicism

decadence presupposes a reaching and passing the peak of development and implies a turn downward with a consequent loss in vitality or energy.

cited love of luxury as a sign of cultural decadence

decline differs from decadence in suggesting a more markedly downward direction and greater momentum as well as more obvious evidence of deterioration.

the meteoric decline of his career after the scandal

Examples of degeneration in a Sentence

the organization's degeneration from a movement for political reform to just another political party

the troubling degeneration of his memory since he reached middle age

Recent Examples on the Web

While chubby cats may look cute, obesity can shorten their life and expose them to elevated risks of cancer, diabetes mellitus, heart disease and hypertension, osteoarthritis and faster degeneration of affected joints, urinary bladder stones, and anesthetic complications. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024

These issues, now understood as symptoms of EDS, were caused by the disorder's impact on connective tissues, leading to joint instability and degeneration over time. —David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025

During the ruckus, Blake is gashed by the beast, beginning his gradual transformation and degeneration into a Wolf Man. —Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Jan. 2025

How to know if your dog is suffering from osteoarthritis Stiffness and difficulty getting up are some of the common signs a dog suffers from osteoarthritis, which the ASPCA defines as inflammation and degeneration in the joint. —Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 8 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see degenerate entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing degeneration

• age-related macular degeneration
• macular degeneration

Kids Definition

degeneration

noun

de·​gen·​er·​a·​tion di-ˌjen-ə-ˈrā-shən 

ˌdē-

1

: a lowering of power, vitality, or essential quality to a feebler and poorer kind or state

2

a

: a change in a tissue or an organ resulting in lessened activity or usefulness

kidney degeneration in old age

b

: a condition marked by degeneration of physical parts (as organs) present in related forms

tapeworms exhibit extreme degeneration

Medical Definition

degeneration

noun

de·​gen·​er·​a·​tion di-ˌjen-ə-ˈrā-shən, ˌdē- 

1

: intellectual or moral decline tending toward dissolution of character or integrity : a progressive worsening of personal adjustment

2

a

: progressive deterioration of physical characters from a level representing the norm of earlier generations or forms : regression of the morphology of a group or kind of organism toward a simpler less highly organized state

parasitism leads to degeneration

b

: deterioration of a tissue or an organ in which its vitality is diminished or its structure impaired

especially : deterioration in which specialized cells are replaced by less specialized cells (as in fibrosis or in malignancies) or in which cells are functionally impaired (as by deposition of abnormal matter in the tissue)