degeneration

noun

de·​gen·​er·​a·​tion di-ˌje-nə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce degeneration (audio)
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
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 That’s the news out of Oxford University, where a recent study found that there are at least 15 modifiable lifestyle factors that contribute to the acceleration of brain degeneration. Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2024 Conventional cotton farming leads to soil degeneration due to intensive use of pesticides and contributes to climate irregularities. Judith Magyar, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024 The damage consisted of early brain cell degeneration and large tears to his septum pellucidum. Emiliana Betancourt, Variety, 18 Sep. 2024 Joint degeneration: Over time, the cartilage in joints wears down, leading to conditions like osteoarthritis. Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 10 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for degeneration 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'degeneration.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see degenerate entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of degeneration was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near degeneration

Cite this Entry

“Degeneration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/degeneration. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

degeneration

noun
de·​gen·​er·​a·​tion di-ˌjen-ə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce degeneration (audio)
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- How to pronounce degeneration (audio)
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)

More from Merriam-Webster on degeneration

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