degeneracy
noun
de·gen·er·a·cy
di-ˈjen-rə-sē 
-ˈje-nə-,
dē-
plural degeneracies
1
: the state of being degenerate
2
: the process of becoming degenerate
3
: sexual perversion
4
: the coding of an amino acid by more than one codon
Examples of degeneracy in a Sentence
the sad degeneracy of the old neighborhood into a slum
the degeneracy of the family into a gang of petty thieves
Recent Examples on the Web
But only a cynic would assert that his decision to appoint a Presidential Working Group on Digital Assets, not to mention the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, was an attempt to justify his memecoin degeneracy.
—
Sean Lee, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Another consequence of vote-threatening public discontent with mass chemical slavery and the abject squalor, the thieving, the degeneracy, and the organized crime that comes with it, has been the recriminalization of drugs in Oregon this September.
—Matt Thompson, SPIN, 3 Feb. 2025
The Pauli degeneracy pressure helps hold up the stellar remnant against gravitational collapse, preventing a black hole from forming.
—Big Think, 13 Jan. 2025
For instance, the previous survey (four years ago) suggested that a quantum effect called Electron degeneracy pressure prevents the core from collapsing.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 21 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for degeneracy
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Sean Lee, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Another consequence of vote-threatening public discontent with mass chemical slavery and the abject squalor, the thieving, the degeneracy, and the organized crime that comes with it, has been the recriminalization of drugs in Oregon this September.
—Matt Thompson, SPIN, 3 Feb. 2025
The Pauli degeneracy pressure helps hold up the stellar remnant against gravitational collapse, preventing a black hole from forming.
—Big Think, 13 Jan. 2025
For instance, the previous survey (four years ago) suggested that a quantum effect called Electron degeneracy pressure prevents the core from collapsing.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 21 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for degeneracy
Cite this Entry
“Degeneracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/degeneracy. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
degeneracy
noun
de·gen·er·a·cy
di-ˈjen-(ə-)rə-sē
plural degeneracies
: the state of being or process of becoming degenerate : degradation, debasement
Medical Definition
degeneracy
noun
de·gen·er·a·cy
di-ˈjen-(ə-)rə-sē
plural degeneracies
1
: the state of being degenerate
2
: the process of becoming degenerate
3
: sexual perversion
4
: the coding of an amino acid by more than one codon of the genetic code
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