verb , adjective , noun
■ verb
/ dɪˈdʒenəreɪt; NAmE / [ v ] degenerate (into sth) to become worse, for example by becoming lower in quality or weaker
SYN deteriorate :
The march degenerated into a riot.
Her health degenerated quickly.
■ adjective / dɪˈdʒenərət/
1.
having moral standards that have fallen to a level that is very low and unacceptable to most people :
a degenerate popular culture
2.
( technical ) having returned to a simple structure; lacking sth that is usually present
► de·gen·er·acy / dɪˈdʒenərəsi; NAmE / noun [ U ]
■ noun
/dɪˈdʒenerət/ a person whose behaviour shows moral standards that have fallen to a very low level
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WORD ORIGIN
late 15th cent.: from Latin degeneratus no longer of its kind, from the verb degenerare , from degener debased, from de- away from + genus , gener- race, kind.