# degeneration

> English word · Noun · IPA /dɪˌdʒɛnəˈɹeɪʃən/ · frequency rank #24,723

## Definitions
1. The process or state of growing worse, or the state of having become worse.
2. That condition of a tissue or an organ in which its vitality has become either diminished or perverted; a substitution of a lower for a higher form of structure.
3. Gradual deterioration, from natural causes, of any class of animals or plants or any particular organ or organs; hereditary degradation of type.
4. A thing that has degenerated.

## Etymology
From French dégénération, from Latin dēgenerātiō.

## Easily confused with
- **degenerative** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/degeneration-vs-degenerative)
- **deceleration** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deceleration-vs-degeneration)

## Common misspellings (18)
`ddegeneration`, `deegneration`, `degeenration`, `degeneartion`, `degeneraiton`, `degenerasion`, `degeneratino`, `degenerationn`, `degeneratoin`, `degenerattion`, `degenerration`, `degenertaion`, `degenneration`, `degenreation`, `deggeneration`, `degneeration`, `dgeeneration`, `edgeneration`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/degeneration