/ dɪˌdʒenəˈreɪʃn; NAmE / noun
[ U ] the process of becoming worse or less acceptable in quality or condition :
social / moral degeneration
Intensive farming in the area has caused severe degeneration of the land.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 15th cent.: from late Latin degeneratio(n-) , from the verb degenerare , from degener debased, from de- away from + genus , gener- race, kind.