1.The act of reducing in rank, character, or reputation, or of abasing; a lowering from one's standing or rank in office or society; diminution; as, the degradation of a peer, a knight, a general, or a bishop. "He saw many removes and degradations in all the other offices of which he had been possessed."
2.The state of being reduced in rank, character, or reputation; baseness; moral, physical, or intellectual degeneracy; disgrace; abasement; debasement. "The... degradation of a needy man of letters." "Deplorable is the degradation of our nature." "Moments there frequently must be, when a sinner is sensible of the degradation of his state."
3.Diminution or reduction of strength, efficacy, or value; degeneration; deterioration. "The development and degradation of the alphabetic forms can be traced."
4.(Geol.) A gradual wearing down or wasting, as of rocks and banks, by the action of water, frost etc.
5.(Biol.) The state or condition of a species or group which exhibits degraded forms; degeneration. "The degradation of the species man is observed in some of its varieties."
6.(Physiol.) Arrest of development, or degeneration of any organ, or of the body as a whole.
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