Definitions

1. verb

to become or cause to become worse or more corrupt

“The once-thriving community began to degenerate into chaos.”

2. noun

a person or thing that is in a state of decay or corruption

“The politician’s reputation had degenerated to the point where he was no longer trusted.”

3. noun

a process or state of decay or corruption, especially in a moral or physical sense

“The degeneration of the social norms led to a breakdown in community cohesion.”

4. noun

a process of becoming less complex or less organized

“The degeneration of the ecosystem was caused by human activities.”