degradation
nounUK /ˌdeɡ.rəˈdeɪ.ʃən/
US /ˌdeɡ.rəˈdeɪ.ʃən/
The act of making something worse or breaking it down.
The degradation of the old building made it unsafe to enter.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A loss of respect or dignity for a person.
The workers suffered degradation under the cruel boss.
3. The process by which land or soil becomes less healthy and useful.
Overgrazing led to the degradation of the farmland.
4. The breaking down of a substance into simpler parts.
Plastic degradation in the ocean can take hundreds of years.