Definition
The act of reducing something's quality, value, or dignity; making something worse or less pure.
Etymology
From de- (down) + base (foundation, low), with -ment suffix. Originated in Middle English from Old French and Latin roots. The meaning evolved from physical lowering to moral or qualitative degradation.
Kelly Says
This word became especially important during the Renaissance when monarchs literally debased currency by mixing less valuable metals into coins—the original economic con that sparked understanding of inflation! Modern use metaphorically applies this 'mixing in impurities' to dignity and character.
Translations
CACatalà
degradació
deh-grah-DAH-see-oh
CSČeština
znehodnocení
zneh-ohd-NOH-cheh-nee
DADansk
forringelse
foh-ring-ehl-seh
DEDeutsch
Entwertung
ehn-VEHRT-oong
ELΕλληνικά
καταστροφή
kah-tah-STROH-fee
ESEspañol
degradación
deh-grah-DAH-see-ohn
FISuomi
alennus
ah-leh-noos
FRFrançais
dégradation
deh-grah-DAH-see-ohn
HEעברית
הורדה
hoh-RAH-dah
HUMagyar
leromlás
leh-ROH-mlahsh
IDBahasa Indonesia
penurunan
peh-NOO-roh-nahn
ITItaliano
degradazione
deh-grah-DAH-zee-oh-neh
KMKM
ការធ្លាក់ចុះ
kaal thlaak choh
MSBahasa Melayu
penurunan
peh-NOO-roh-nahn
MYမြန်မာ
လျော့နည်း
lyaht nay
NLNederlands
verlaging
vayr-LAH-king
NONorsk
forringelse
foh-ring-ehl-seh
PLPolski
pogorszenie
poh-gohr-SHEH-nyeh
PTPortuguês
degradação
deh-grah-DAH-soh
RORomână
degradare
deh-grah-DAH-reh
RUРусский
деградация
deh-grah-DAH-tsee-yah
SVSvenska
försämring
fohr-seh-mring
SWKiswahili
kushuka
koo-SHOH-kah
THไทย
การเสื่อม
kah-seu-um
TLTL
pagbaba
pahg-BAH-bah
TRTürkçe
aşağılama
ah-shah-ee-LAH-mah
UKУкраїнська
деградація
deh-grah-DAH-tsee-yah
VITiếng Việt
suy thoái
soo-y toh-ai
YOYO
ìfọwọ́sàn
ee-foh-woh-SAHN
ZUZU
ukudweka
oo-koo-DEH-kah