degradation

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal

n. a situation that makes someone feel ashamed or lose the respect of others.

n. the act of lowering someone's social rank, reputation, or character; a state of humiliation or abasement.

“He felt a sense of degradation when he was forced to beg for food.”

“The prisoners were subjected to constant degradation in an attempt to break their spirit and sense of self-worth.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Technical

n. the process of a material or chemical breaking down and becoming weaker.

n. a deleterious change in the chemical structure or physical properties of a material due to exposure or use.

“The degradation of the plastic was caused by many years of sunlight.”

“Engineers monitored the thermal degradation of the polymer to ensure it could withstand the high temperatures of the engine bay.”

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Technical

n. the wearing away of rocks or land by water, wind, or ice.

n. the wearing down of the Earth's surface by natural processes such as erosion or weathering.

“The degradation of the river banks was caused by the heavy winter floods.”

“Geological degradation over millions of years has transformed the once-jagged mountain range into a series of rolling hills.”