Dictionary

degenerate en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• (New-Jersey) audio
• (US) audio
• /dɪˈd͡ʒɛnəɹɪt/

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin dēgenerātus. See -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more.

Meanings

1. (of qualities) Having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal, coherent, balanced and desirable to undesirable and typically abnormal.
2. (of a person or system) Having lost good or desirable qualities; hence also having bad character or habits, base, immoral, corrupt.
   • Farwell faint-hearted and degenerate King, / In whose cold blood no sparke of Honor bides. c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
   • What are the odds that an alcoholic and degenerate gambler with no money management skills could survive in a city that ate addicts for lunch and dreams for dinner? 2013, Artie Lange, Crash and Burn:
   • As you grew more degenerate and base, / I sent you millions of the croaking race a. 1746 (date written), Jonathan Swift, “Verses on St. Patrick’s Well”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume VII, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, →OCLC, page 341:
   • The author explores the gap between the degenerate, elitist society of the domes and the working population. He criticizes the world of luxury and ease that easily ignores the sufferings of the majority. 1985 February 2, Tim Broadbent, “Kindred Spirits (review)”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 28, page 10:
   • Whole communities laughingly self-identify as degenerate. Gamers complain about “degenerate play styles” that ruin competition. 2026 July 9, Nitsuh Abebe, “Has There Ever Been a Better Time to Be a ‘Degenerate’?”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
   • If my boy is not tempted to gamble at a fashionable card party he will never learn from the degenerate, blackleg gamblers in the joint. 1918, Alexander Corkey, The Vision of Joy, or When "Billy" Sunday Came to Town:
   • But what can Cato do Againſt a World, a baſe degenerate World, That courts the Yoke, and bows the Neck to Cæſar? 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 2:
3. Having lost functionality in general.
   • It is likely that the long evolutionary trajectory of Mycoplasma went from a reductive autotroph to oxidative heterotroph to a cell-wall–defective degenerate parasite. This evolutionary trajectory assumes the simplicity to complexity route of biogenesis, a point of view that is not universally accepted. 2013 March 14, Harold J. Morowitz, “The Smallest Cell”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 2, archived from the original on 04 Jan 2017, page 83:
4. (of an encoding or function) Having multiple domain elements correspond to one element of the range.
   • The genetic code is degenerate because a single amino acid can be coded by one of several codons.
5. Qualitatively different, usually simpler, than typical objects of its class.
   • A degenerate circle, having radius zero, consists of a single point.
   • We now apply the geometrical construction explained in the appendix to the degenerate triangle ABC. 1921, A. Hay, “Phase Transformation and Phase Balancing”, in Journal of the Indian Institute of Science, volume 4, page 102:
6. (of an eigenvalue) Having multiple different (linearly independent) eigenvectors.
7. Having the same quantum energy level.

Forms

Deriveds

undegenerate · degenerative · degenerate conic · degenerately · degenerate matrix · hemidegenerate · neutron-degenerate matter · degenerate matter · degenerateness · non-degenerate · nondegenerate

Translations (71)

es degenerado (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · fi rappioitunut (having lost good or desirable qualities) · de entartet (having the same quantum energy level) · fi rappioitunut (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · es degenerado (having lost good or desirable qualities) · ta சீரழிந்த (having lost good or desirable qualities) · ta சீரழிந்த (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · pt degenerado (having lost good or desirable qualities) · mi pūwhenua (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · de degeneriert (having lost good or desirable qualities) · cmn 變質 /变质 (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · ru вы́рожденный (having lost good or desirable qualities) · tr dejenere (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · gd truaillte (having lost good or desirable qualities) · it snaturato (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · hu elfajult (having lost good or desirable qualities) · it degenerato (having lost good or desirable qualities) · tr yozlaşmış (having lost good or desirable qualities) · it snaturato (having lost good or desirable qualities) · tr yoz (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · cmn 惡化 /恶化 (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · ru вы́рожденный (qualitatively different, usually simpler, than typical objects of its class) · it scellerato (having lost good or desirable qualities) · mi pūwhenua (having lost good or desirable qualities) · de widernatürlich (having lost good or desirable qualities) · bg изроден (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · de dekadent (having lost good or desirable qualities) · ru вы́рожденный (having multiple domain elements correspond to one element of the range) · da degenereret (having the same quantum energy level) · pl zwyrodniały (having lost good or desirable qualities) · gd daoidh (having lost good or desirable qualities) · mi tāmatemate (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · tr soysuz (having lost good or desirable qualities) · bg дегенерирал (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · fi rappeutunut (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · ro degenerat (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · ota صویسز (having lost good or desirable qualities) · ru вы́рожденный (having the same quantum energy level) · tr yozlaşmış (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · ru опусти́вшийся (having lost good or desirable qualities) · tr soysuz (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · nl ontaard (having the same quantum energy level) · la dēgener (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · fi degeneroitunut (having the same quantum energy level) · fi rappio- (having lost good or desirable qualities) · fr dégénéré (having lost good or desirable qualities) · fr dégradé (having lost good or desirable qualities) · fi rappeutunut (having lost good or desirable qualities) · da udartet (having the same quantum energy level) · cmn 墮落 /堕落 (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · ota صویسز (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · ru дегради́ровавший (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · fr dégénéré (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · sq zvetënoj (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · tr dejenere (having lost good or desirable qualities) · de entartet (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · pt degenerado (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · pl zdegenerowany (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · da degenereret (having lost good or desirable qualities) · fi rappio- (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · fi degeneratiivinen (having multiple domain elements correspond to one element of the range) · he מנוון (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · uk ви́роджений (having lost good or desirable qualities) · de entartet (having lost good or desirable qualities) · da degenereret (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · fr dégradé (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · ru вы́родившийся (having lost good or desirable qualities) · gl dexenerado (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal) · pl zdegenerowany (having lost good or desirable qualities) · gl dexenerado (having lost good or desirable qualities) · ro degradat (having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal)

degenerate en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• (New-Jersey) audio
• (US) audio
• /dɪˈd͡ʒɛnəɹɪt/

Etymology

From a substantivation of the above adjective, see -ate (noun-forming suffix) for more. Compare French dégénéré.

Meanings

1. One who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature; an immoral or corrupt person.
   • In the cult of degenerates, acts of decency, kindness and modesty could be seen as acts of apostasy.
   • After all, a lot of old standards would judge us all a nation of degenerates, with our phone-gambling and modern art and cereal commercials featuring multiracial families. 2026 July 9, Nitsuh Abebe, “Has There Ever Been a Better Time to Be a ‘Degenerate’?”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
   • The undeveloped or mysterically confused thought which exists in savages is fully exemplified in the childish or crazy atavistic anthropomorphism and symbolism so prevalent among degenerates. 1911 May, “Insanity and the Art of the Borderland”, in The International Studio, volume 32, number 171, page 32:

Forms

Translations (29)

es depravado (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · pl degeneratka (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · sh дегенѐрик (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · eo degenerulo (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · sh degenèrik (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · de Assi (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · ru вырожде́нец (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · ru дегенера́т (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · ga meatachán (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · de Asozialer (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · gd droch-dhuine (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · es degenerado (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · pt degenerado (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · tr dejenere (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · fr dépravé (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · pl degenerat (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · fr dégénéré (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · tr soysuz (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · mi pouāwai (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · fi rappioitunut (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · ja 変質者 (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · fi rappioyksilö (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · ru вы́родок (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · uk дегенера́тка (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · gd daoidh (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · ru дегенера́тка (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · uk ви́родок (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · uk дегенера́т (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature) · bg дегенера́т (one who is degenerate, who has fallen from previous stature)

degenerate en · VERB · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• (New-Jersey) audio
• (Southern-England) audio
• /dɪˈd͡ʒɛnəɹeɪt/

Etymology

From Latin degenerō + -ate (verb-forming suffix). Compare Italian degenerare, French dégénérer (and its older (and now obsolete) English cognate from Middle French, degener). By surface analysis, de- + generate.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To lose good or desirable qualities.
   • His condition continued to degenerate even after admission to hospital.
   • The haploid ovum is now called an ootid (Fig. 8—7). The second polar body degenerates, sometimes dividing before it dies. 1991, Richard E. Jones, Human Reproductive Biology, page 181:
   • Cumaratunga was so furious that he intensified his campaign for revitalizing the traditional practices of asweddumization, so that neglected arable land could be rehabilitated, and a degenerating economy restructured and rejuvenated. 1992, Alavattāgoḍa Pēmadāsa, Cumaratunga, the Unknown: Hidden Facets of His Scientific Profile, page 115:
   • Another bird quickly learned to imitate the song of a canary that was mated with it, but as the parrakeet improved in the performance the canary degenerated, and came at last to mingle the other bird's harsh chitterings with its own proper music. 1870, Shirley Hibberd, Rustic Adornments for Homes of Taste, page 170:
2. (transitive) To cause to lose good or desirable qualities.

Forms

Deriveds

neurodegenerating · undegenerated · nondegenerated · undegenerating · degeneration · neurodegenerated

Relateds

ungenerate · regenerate

Translations (57)

io degenerar (to lose good or desirable qualities) · fi degeneroitua (to lose good or desirable qualities) · pl degenerować się (to lose good or desirable qualities) · de entarten (to lose good or desirable qualities) · mi tauheke (to lose good or desirable qualities) · tr bozulmak (to lose good or desirable qualities) · ga meathlaigh (to lose good or desirable qualities) · ca degenerar (to lose good or desirable qualities) · es degenerarse (to lose good or desirable qualities) · fi rappioitua (to lose good or desirable qualities) · ru вырождаться (to lose good or desirable qualities) · uk виро́джуватися (to lose good or desirable qualities) · bg дегенерирам (to lose good or desirable qualities) · fi rappeutua (to lose good or desirable qualities) · cmn 惡化 /恶化 (to lose good or desirable qualities) · sv urarta (to lose good or desirable qualities) · pl zwyrodnieć (to lose good or desirable qualities) · ro degenera (to lose good or desirable qualities) · ta சீரழி (to lose good or desirable qualities) · ta சீரழி (to cause to lose good or desirable qualities) · fi degeneroida (to cause to lose good or desirable qualities) · tr dejenere etmek (to cause to lose good or desirable qualities) · ja 退化する (to lose good or desirable qualities) · tr soysuzlaşmak (to lose good or desirable qualities) · sv degenerera (to lose good or desirable qualities) · fi rappeuttaa (to cause to lose good or desirable qualities) · tr yozlaşmak (to lose good or desirable qualities) · tr dejenere olmak (to lose good or desirable qualities) · tr soysuzlaştırmak (to cause to lose good or desirable qualities) · es degenerar (to cause to lose good or desirable qualities) · de entarten (to cause to lose good or desirable qualities) · uk дегенерува́ти (to lose good or desirable qualities) · fi rappioittaa (to cause to lose good or desirable qualities) · gd rach bhuaithe (to lose good or desirable qualities) · fr dégénérer (to cause to lose good or desirable qualities) · sh на̀задовати (to lose good or desirable qualities) · ru дегенерировать (to lose good or desirable qualities) · fr dégénérer (to lose good or desirable qualities) · mi tipuheke (to lose good or desirable qualities) · sh nàzadovati (to lose good or desirable qualities) · mi pūwhenua (to lose good or desirable qualities) · pt degenerar (to lose good or desirable qualities) · bg израждам се (to lose good or desirable qualities) · nl ontaarden (to cause to lose good or desirable qualities) · tr yozlaştırmak (to cause to lose good or desirable qualities) · pl wykolejać się (to lose good or desirable qualities) · nl ontaarden (to lose good or desirable qualities) · ro degrada (to lose good or desirable qualities) · tr dejenereleşmek (to lose good or desirable qualities) · tr bozmak (to cause to lose good or desirable qualities) · tr dejenereleştirmek (to cause to lose good or desirable qualities) · fr dégrader (to cause to lose good or desirable qualities) · es degenerar (to lose good or desirable qualities) · pt degenerar (to cause to lose good or desirable qualities) · uk ви́родитися (to lose good or desirable qualities) · it degenerare (to lose good or desirable qualities) · fr se dégrader (to lose good or desirable qualities)

wikipedia: English · wikipedia: Middle French