n.
Pronunciation: ˌ de-gr ə - ' d ā -sh ə n
Function: noun
Date: circa 1535
1 : the act or process of degrading
2 a : decline to a low, destitute, or demoralized state b : moral or intellectual decadence : DEGENERATION
– deg · ra · da · tive \ ' de-gr ə - ˌ d ā -tiv \ adjective