Deterioration
[dɪˌtɪəriəˈreɪʃən]
Definitions
The process of becoming progressively worse; the act or process of making or becoming worse.
[dɪˌtɪəriəˈreɪʃən]
The process of becoming progressively worse.
The deterioration of the building's structure made it unsafe.
💡 Simply: Imagine your favorite toy gets older and older, maybe its color fades or it starts to break. Deterioration is like that – things getting worn out and not as good as they used to be. For example: If a house's paint starts to peel after years in the sun, that's deterioration.
👶 For kids: When something gets worse or breaks down.
More Examples
The doctor noted a significant deterioration in her patient's condition.
Environmental deterioration can have lasting effects on ecosystems.
How It's Used
"The patient's rapid deterioration was alarming."
"The deterioration of the environment is a global concern."
"The economic deterioration led to widespread job losses."
Idioms & expressions
Downhill slide
A situation or process of decline or worsening.
"After the company's poor decisions, the business was on a downhill slide."
To go from bad to worse
To worsen or deteriorate significantly.
"The situation went from bad to worse after the storm."
From Middle French détérioration, from détériorer ('to make worse'), from Latin deterior ('worse').
The word 'deterioration' has been used since the 17th century, initially referring to a decline in quality or value.
Memory tip
Think of a tear that gets worse. The word starts like 'tear' but with a 'de' in front, which makes it worse.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: deterior