Degradation
/ˌdeɪɡrəˈdeɪʃən/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe process of making something worse, or of being made worse; a decline to a lower condition or level.
/ˌdeɪɡrəˈdeɪʃən/
The act or process of making something worse or causing it to deteriorate.
The degradation of the environment is a serious problem.
💡 Simply: Imagine your favorite park starts to get messy, with trash everywhere and broken benches. That's degradation: when something beautiful or good gets worse over time.
👶 For kids: When something gets yucky and not good anymore, like when your favorite toy breaks.
More Examples
The city faced economic degradation.
Years of neglect led to the degradation of the historic building.
How It's Used
"Soil degradation is a major concern in agriculture."
"The degradation of human rights was evident during the conflict."
"Material degradation can lead to the failure of a component."
A state of decline or lowering of moral, intellectual, or social level; humiliation.
/ˌdeɪɡrəˈdeɪʃən/
The act of lowering someone's status or reputation; humiliation.
The soldiers were subjected to acts of degradation.
💡 Simply: Think about someone being treated really poorly, like being publicly embarrassed or losing all their respect. This is degradation—making someone feel like they're worth less.
👶 For kids: When someone is treated really badly and made to feel small.
More Examples
The public degradation of the whistleblower was seen as a warning to others.
She fought against the degradation of women's rights.
How It's Used
"The prisoner endured degradation at the hands of his captors."
"The public degradation of the traitor was a dramatic display."
Idioms & expressions
a gradual degradation
A slow process of decline or deterioration.
"The environment is suffering a gradual degradation due to pollution."
the degradation of morale
The decline in the confidence, enthusiasm, and discipline of a person or group.
"The extended conflict led to the degradation of morale among the troops."
From Latin degradatio, from degradare, meaning 'to lower in rank or status,' or 'to make worse'.
The word's use in historical texts often referred to a decline in moral standards or the physical decay of structures or environments.
Memory tip
Think of a 'grade' going down – a degradation.