Word of the Day: degenerate

de·gen·er·ate adjective \di-ˈjen-rət, -ˈje-nə-, dē-\: having low moral standards : not honest, proper, or good

Full Definition of DEGENERATE

a: having declined or become less specialized (as in nature, character, structure, or function) from an ancestral or former state

b: having sunk to a condition below that which is normal to a type; especially: having sunk to a lower and usually corrupt and vicious state

c: degraded

2: being mathematically simpler (as by having a factor or constant equal to zero) than the typical case degenerate hyperbola>

3: characterized by atoms stripped of their electrons and by very great density <degenerate matter>; also: consisting of degenerate matter <a degenerate star>

4: having two or more states or subdivisions <degenerate energy level>

5: having more than one codon representing an amino acid; also: being such a codon

— de·gen·er·ate·lyadverb

— de·gen·er·ate·nessnoun

Examples of DEGENERATE

He criticizes what he believes is a degenerate society.
<a degenerate society in which people had no sense of being citizens, only consumers>

Origin of DEGENERATE

Middle English degenerat, from Latin degeneratus, past participle of degenerare to degenerate, from de- + gener-, genus race, kind — more at kin

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to DEGENERATE