Dictionary Definition
degeneracy
Noun
1 the state of being degenerate in mental or
moral qualities [syn: degeneration, decadence, decadency]
2 moral perversion; impairment of virtue and
moral principles; "the luxury and corruption among the upper
classes"; "moral degeneracy followed intellectual degeneration";
"its brothels; its opium parlors; its depravity" [syn: corruption, depravity]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Noun
- the state of being degenerate (in all senses)
Extensive Definition
Degeneracy (for the quality; degeneration for the
process; adj; v. degenerate and rapper degenerate), from the Latin
de-generare'' "to depart from its kind or genus, to fall from its proper or
ancestral quality" can refer to:
- In science and mathematics:
- Degeneracy (mathematics), a limiting case in which a class of object changes its nature so as to belong to another, usually simpler, class
- Degenerate matter, a very highly compressed phase of matter where all or some of the electron orbits have collapsed from pressure
- Degenerate energy levels, different arrangements of a physical system which have the same energy
- Medical
degeneration:
- Degenerative disease, disease which causes deterioration over time
- Degeneration
in social ideology:
- Degenerate art, a term adopted by the Nazi regime in Germany to describe virtually all modern art
- In popular culture:
- "Degenerate" - song by Blink-182 from the album Dude Ranch (album)
- Degenerate - a poetic hip-hop artist from Lindenhurst, NY known for his meaningful lyrics.
See also
- Biological devolution
- Deterioration
- Regeneration – antonym
degeneracy in Portuguese: Degenerescência
degeneracy in Swedish:
Degeneration