degradation

C1 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˌdɛgrəˈdeɪʃən/ UK /ˌdɛɡɹəˈdeɪʃən/ See IPA manual

Freq #23813

Meanings

1

noun
A drop to a lower, worse state, especially in quality or condition.

Pollution has caused serious environmental degradation in the region.
2

noun
The state of being treated without respect, or of losing one's dignity and self-respect.

She wrote about the degradation suffered by the poorest workers.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a drop to a lower, worse... deterioration

2 noun · the state of being treated... abasement debasement

Word family

Forms degradations

Derived forms antidegradationautodegradationdegradationalhydrodegradationimmunodegradationneurodegradationnondegradationoverdegradationphoto-degradationphotodegradationphytodegradationpredegradation

Related forms decomposition

Etymology

From French dégradation. Morphologically degrade + -ation.

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# degradation

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌdɛgrəˈdeɪʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌdɛɡɹəˈdeɪʃən/
**Frequency rank:** 23813

## Meanings
1. A drop to a lower, worse state, especially in quality or condition.
2. The state of being treated without respect, or of losing one's dignity and self-respect.

## Examples
- Pollution has caused serious environmental degradation in the region.
- She wrote about the degradation suffered by the poorest workers.

## Derived Forms
- antidegradation
- autodegradation
- degradational
- hydrodegradation
- immunodegradation
- neurodegradation
- nondegradation
- overdegradation
- photo-degradation
- photodegradation
- phytodegradation
- predegradation

## Related Forms
- decomposition

## Etymology
From French dégradation. Morphologically degrade + -ation.

## AI Etymology
Degradation is from French dégradation. Morphologically degrade + -ation. In present-day use, it can mean a drop to a lower, worse state, especially in quality or condition, or the state of being treated without respect, or of losing one's dignity and self-respect. Derived formations include antidegradation, autodegradation, degradational, hydrodegradation, and immunodegradation.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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