degeneracy Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the state of being degenerate in mental or moral qualities
    degeneration; decadence; decadency.
  2. noun moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles
    putrefaction; depravation; depravity; corruption.
    • the luxury and corruption among the upper classes
    • moral degeneracy followed intellectual degeneration
    • its brothels, its opium parlors, its depravity
    • Rome had fallen into moral putrefaction

WordNet

De*gen"er*a*cy noun
Etymology
From Degenerate, a.
Definitions
  1. The act of becoming degenerate; a growing worse.
    Willful degeneracy from goodness. Tillotson.
  2. The state of having become degenerate; decline in good qualities; deterioration; meanness.
    Degeneracy of spirit in a state of slavery. Addison.
    To recover mankind out of their universal corruption and degeneracy. S. Clarke.

Webster 1913