degradation

 
Pronunciation: /ˌdɛgrəˈdeɪʃ(ə)n/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1the condition or process of degrading or being degraded: a trail of human misery and degradation
  • 2 Geology the wearing down of rock by disintegration.

Origin:

mid 16th century: from Old French, or from ecclesiastical Latin degradatio(n-), from the verb degradare (see degrade)