Related Searches
Nearby Words
Synonyms

degradation

 [deg-ruh-dey-shuhn]   Example Sentences Origin

deg·ra·da·tion

   [deg-ruh-dey-shuhn]
noun
1.
the act of degrading.
2.
the state of being degraded.
3.
Physical Geography. the wearing down of the land by the erosive action of water, wind, or ice.
4.
Chemistry. the breakdown of an organic compound.
Origin:
1525–35; < Late Latin dēgradātiōn- (stem of dēgradātiō), equivalent to dēgradāt(us) (past participle of dēgradāre to degrade) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms
deg·ra·da·tion·al, adjective
deg·ra·da·tive, adjective
an·ti·deg·ra·da·tion, adjective
non·deg·ra·da·tion, noun
self-deg·ra·da·tion, noun

Synonyms
2. humiliation, disgrace, dishonor, debasement.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To degradation

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Degradation is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Example Sentences
  • The flipside of the country's rapid growth is a worrying degradation of its environment.
  • Continuing degradation of forest fragments is the main threat to this ecoregion.
  • Thus, the main threats in the region are overgrazing and forest degradation, though these pressures are not too severe.
EXPAND
Collins
World English Dictionary
degradation (ˌdɛɡrəˈdeɪʃən)
 
—n
1.  the act of degrading or the state of being degraded
2.  a state of degeneration, squalor, or poverty
3.  some act, constraint, etc, that is degrading
4.  the wearing down of the surface of rocks, cliffs, etc, by erosion, weathering, or some other process
5.  chem a breakdown of a molecule into atoms or smaller molecules
6.  physics an irreversible process in which the energy available to do work is decreased
7.  RC Church the permanent unfrocking of a priest

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

degradation
1530s, from Fr. dégradation (14c.), from M.L. degradationem, noun of action from degradare (see degrade).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

degradation deg·ra·da·tion (děg'rə-dā'shən)
n.
Progressive decomposition of a chemical compound into a less complex compound.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriThesaurus
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT
How many words do you know? FIND OUT