Definition
As an adjective, it means having fallen to a lower or worse state, especially in morals or quality. As a verb, it means to decline or break down over time. As a noun, it refers to a person considered to have low moral standards.
Etymology
From Latin *degenerare* meaning 'to decline from one's kind or race', from *de-* ('down from') and *genus* ('race, kind, type'). The original sense was about falling below the standard of your group or origin.
Kelly Says
The word started as a literal idea of 'falling below your kind', which is why it has a strong moral and social sting when used about people. In science, though, 'degenerate' can be neutral, describing systems or structures that have broken down or simplified.
Translations
BNবাংলা
অবক্ষয়
ab-akshoy
CACatalà
degenerar
deh-geh-neh-rah
CSČeština
zdegenerovat
zdeh-geh-neh-roh-vat
DADansk
degenerere
deh-geh-neh-reh-reh
DEDeutsch
entarten
ent-ahr-ten
ELΕλληνικά
αποσυνθέτω
ap-osyn-thet-o
ESEspañol
degenerar
deh-heh-neh-rahr
FISuomi
degeneroitua
deh-geh-neh-roh-ee-tah
FRFrançais
dégénérer
deh-zheh-neh-reh
HAHA
lalacewa
lah-lah-cheh-wah
HEעברית
להידרדר
leh-hee-dar-dehr
HUMagyar
elfajul
el-fah-yul
IDBahasa Indonesia
mengalami kemunduran
meng-ah-lah-mee kem-oo-nah-roon
IGIG
idebanye
ee-deh-bah-nyeh
ITItaliano
degenerare
deh-zheh-neh-ra-reh
KKKK
дегенерация
deh-geh-neh-rah-see-yah
MSBahasa Melayu
mengalami kemerosotan
meng-ah-lah-mee kem-eh-roh-soh-tan
MYမြန်မာ
ဆိုးရဲစွာ ဖြစ်သွား
soo-yay-zwa pyit-thwar
NLNederlands
degenereren
deh-geh-neh-reh-ren
NONorsk
degenerere
deh-geh-neh-reh-reh
PLPolski
zdegenerować
zdeh-geh-neh-rovats
PTPortuguês
degenerar
deh-zheh-neh-rahr
RORomână
a degenera
ah deh-geh-neh-rah
RUРусский
дегенерировать
deh-geh-neh-ee-roh-vat
SVSvenska
degenerera
deh-geh-neh-reh-rah
SWKiswahili
kutokwa
koo-toh-kwah
TAதமிழ்
சீரழிவு
seer-azhivu
TEతెలుగు
క్షీణత
kshiinata
TLTL
mabubulok
mah-bu-bu-lok
TRTürkçe
çürümesi
chur-oo-meh-see
UKУкраїнська
дегенерувати
deh-geh-neh-roo-vah-ty
URاردو
بدتر ہونا
bud-tar hona
VITiếng Việt
suy thoái
soo-y toh-ai
ZUZU
ukuhlupheka
oo-khoo-luh-peh-kah
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Historically, 'degenerate' has been used in moral panics to stigmatize groups, including women who transgressed sexual or gender norms, as well as queer and marginalized communities. It carries a legacy of eugenic and pseudo-scientific discourse.
Inclusive Usage
Avoid using 'degenerate' to describe people or groups; if needed in a technical sense (e.g., mathematics, physics), clarify that it is value-neutral.
Inclusive Alternatives
["unethical","harmful","declining in quality","degenerate case (technical, with explanation)"]
Empowerment Note
Scholars, many of them women, have documented and challenged the use of 'degeneracy' language to police gender and sexuality.