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
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
America, Where the Dogs Don’t Bark and the Birds Don’t Sing
The Comte de Buffon's thirty-six volume Natural History claimed that America was a land of degeneracy.
—
JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
This is how pop stars validate the unconscionable — from selfishness to degeneracy and crime.
—Armond White, National Review, 15 Nov. 2023
But the shadow of degeneracy still looms large.
—WIRED, 21 Feb. 2023
In effect, compounding interest (historically low for the past decade but lately headed upwards) must outrun the costs of taxation (declining globally), procreation (declining in wealthier countries), and the loafing and degeneracy that attend the inheritance of great fortunes.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 14 Sep. 2022
See all Example Sentences for degeneracy 
JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
This is how pop stars validate the unconscionable — from selfishness to degeneracy and crime.
—Armond White, National Review, 15 Nov. 2023
But the shadow of degeneracy still looms large.
—WIRED, 21 Feb. 2023
In effect, compounding interest (historically low for the past decade but lately headed upwards) must outrun the costs of taxation (declining globally), procreation (declining in wealthier countries), and the loafing and degeneracy that attend the inheritance of great fortunes.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 14 Sep. 2022
See all Example Sentences for degeneracy
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'degeneracy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near degeneracy
Cite this Entry
“Degeneracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/degeneracy. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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