Deg′ra‐da″tion (?), n. [LL. degradatio, from degradare: cf. F. dégradation. See Degrade.] 1. The act of reducing in rank, character, or reputation, or of abasing; a lowering from one's standing or rank in office or society; diminution; as, the degradation of a peer, a knight, a general, or a bishop.
He saw many removes and degradations in all the other offices of which he had been possessed. Clarendon.
2. The state of being reduced in rank, character, or reputation; baseness; moral, physical, or intellectual degeneracy; disgrace; abasement; debasement.
The... degradation of a needy man of letters. Macaulay.
Deplorable is the degradation of our nature. South.
Moments there frequently must be, when a sinner is sensible of the degradation of his state. Blair.
3. Diminution or reduction of strength, efficacy, or value; degeneration; deterioration.
The development and degradation of the alphabetic forms can be traced. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).
4. (Geol.) A gradual wearing down or wasting, as of rocks and banks, by the action of water, frost etc.
5. (Biol.) The state or condition of a species or group which exhibits degraded forms; degeneration.
The degradation of the species man is observed in some of its varieties. Dana.
6. (Physiol.) Arrest of development, or degeneration of any organ, or of the body as a whole.
Degradation of energy, orDissipation of energy(Physics), the transformation of energy into some form in which it is less available for doing work.
Syn. — Abasement; debasement; reduction; decline.