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Definition of degeneration

degeneration

/dɪˌdʒɛn.əˈreɪ.ʃən/
de · gen · er · a · tion
Adverb:degeneratively
•
Plural:degenerations
•
Adjective:degenerative
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degeneration Lexical Profile

degeneration Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The progressive deterioration of tissues, cells, or organs in which they lose their specialized structure and function due to disease, injury, or aging.

Example

"Early detection can help slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration."

2

The state or process of declining in quality, standard, or moral character; a worsening or falling from a higher to a lower level.

Example

"Historians debated the gradual degeneration of civic institutions during the final decades of the empire."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for degeneration

• Nearby Words

defy
degeneracy
degenerate
degeneration
degenerative
deglamorize
deglaze

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the 15th century from Late Latin degeneratio, from the verb degenerare ('to be inferior to one's ancestors' or 'to fall from one's ancestral quality'), formed from de- ('down from') and genus ('birth, race, or kind').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Degeneration. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/degeneration
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