degradation
Pronunciation: [ˌdɛɡrəˈdeɪʃən]
Context: “environment”
(noun) the process by which something becomes worse or falls apart. It can happen to nature, like when pollution makes air or water dirty, or to things like your toys when they break and can't be used anymore.
Example
The park was fixed up after years of degradation, and it looks beautiful again.
Example
The degradation of the river made it unsafe for fish and plants to live there.
Example
What can we do to stop the degradation of our natural resources?
Context: “social”
(noun) a situation where someone is treated poorly or loses their dignity. It can happen when people are made to feel less important or are disrespected, like when someone is bullied at school.
Example
The community worked hard to prevent the degradation of its members' dignity.
Example
Bullying leads to the degradation of the student's self-esteem and confidence.
Example
How can we help someone who is facing degradation in their life?
Context: “material”
(noun) the process of something breaking down into smaller parts or becoming less effective. This can happen to materials like metal when they rust or to food when it spoils.
Example
The researchers studied how quickly the degradation of the plastic bag happened in the environment.
Example
Without proper storage, the degradation of the food led it to spoil quickly.
Example
What factors influence the degradation of different materials?