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

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

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

Their spinsterhood took on an ominous cast, their celibacy no longer evidence of pure, Christian love, but now suggestive of physical, emotional, and intellectual degeneracy. —Natalie Kinkade, JSTOR Daily, 25 Sep. 2024

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

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