B2 adjective Formel

degradation

/ˌdeɡ.rəˈdeɪ.ʃən/

The process by which something is made worse, weaker, or lower in quality. It is commonly used to describe the decline of environmental conditions, moral standards, or the physical breakdown of materials.

Exemples

3 sur 5
1

The heavy foot traffic has caused the degradation of the hiking trails.

High numbers of walkers have led to the wearing down of the paths.

2

International cooperation is essential to halt further environmental degradation.

Countries must work together to stop the worsening of nature's condition.

3

I've noticed a real degradation in the quality of the food here lately.

I have seen the food quality get much worse recently.

Famille de mots

Nom
degradation
Verb
degrade
Adverbe
degradingly
Adjectif
degrading
Apparenté
degradability
💡

Astuce mémo

Think of 'de-grade' as moving 'down a grade.' If a student goes from an A to a D, that is a degradation of their academic standing.

Quiz rapide

The ______ of the ecosystem was caused by illegal logging and mining.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : degradation

Exemples

1

The heavy foot traffic has caused the degradation of the hiking trails.

everyday

High numbers of walkers have led to the wearing down of the paths.

2

International cooperation is essential to halt further environmental degradation.

formal

Countries must work together to stop the worsening of nature's condition.

3

I've noticed a real degradation in the quality of the food here lately.

informal

I have seen the food quality get much worse recently.

4

The study explores the chemical degradation of plastics in marine environments.

academic

The research looks at how plastic breaks down chemically in the sea.

5

We must ensure that cost-cutting measures do not lead to a degradation of service.

business

We need to make sure saving money doesn't make our service worse.

Famille de mots

Nom
degradation
Verb
degrade
Adverbe
degradingly
Adjectif
degrading
Apparenté
degradability

Collocations courantes

environmental degradation the damage caused to the natural world
soil degradation the decline in soil quality and fertility
moral degradation the loss of ethical standards or values
rapid degradation a very fast decline in quality or condition
material degradation the physical breaking down of a substance

Phrases Courantes

suffer degradation

to experience a decline in status or quality

halt degradation

to stop a process of worsening

human degradation

the loss of dignity or respect for people

Souvent confondu avec

degradation vs deterioration

Deterioration is a general word for getting worse, while degradation often implies a loss of rank, dignity, or a specific physical breakdown.

degradation vs depreciation

Depreciation refers specifically to the loss of financial value over time.

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Notes d'usage

Use 'degradation' when discussing serious or systemic decline, especially in scientific, environmental, or social contexts. It sounds more formal and technical than 'worsening'.

⚠️

Erreurs courantes

Learners sometimes use 'degradation' as a verb; remember that 'degrade' is the verb and 'degradation' is the noun.

💡

Astuce mémo

Think of 'de-grade' as moving 'down a grade.' If a student goes from an A to a D, that is a degradation of their academic standing.

📖

Origine du mot

From the Late Latin 'degradatio', coming from 'de-' (down) and 'gradus' (step or grade).

Modèles grammaticaux

Uncountable noun in general contexts Can be countable in scientific contexts referring to specific types of breakdown Often followed by the preposition 'of'
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Contexte culturel

This word is frequently heard in global political discourse regarding climate change and 'environmental degradation'.

Quiz rapide

The ______ of the ecosystem was caused by illegal logging and mining.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : degradation

Mots lis

bishop

B2

To admit a person into the Christian church through the rite of confirmation performed by a bishop. It can also refer to the formal act of ordaining or appointing someone to the office of bishop.

bit

B2

In this specific context, it describes something that is minor, secondary, or small in scale, often referring to roles or components within a larger system. It is frequently used attributively to indicate that a part or person has limited importance or duration.

bitterly

B2

An adverb used to describe actions or feelings done with intense resentment, deep disappointment, or extreme harshness. It is also frequently used to emphasize that weather conditions are painfully cold.

bivalve

B2

A bivalve is an aquatic mollusk with a body enclosed within a hinged shell that consists of two distinct parts. This group includes well-known creatures like clams, oysters, mussels, and scallops, which are often harvested for food or studied for their environmental impact.

bizarrely

B2

In a very strange or unusual manner that is often difficult to explain or expect. It is used to describe actions, appearances, or situations that deviate significantly from what is considered normal.

blackberry

B2

To go out and gather wild blackberries from bushes, typically during late summer or early autumn. It describes the specific recreational or foraging activity of picking these berries in nature.

blackcurrant

B2

Describing something that has the flavor, scent, or dark purple color of the blackcurrant berry. It is frequently used to characterize food products, beverages, and scents derived from the Ribes nigrum plant.

blackhead

B2

A small, dark-colored bump on the skin caused by a clogged hair follicle where oil and skin cells have oxidized upon contact with air. They are a mild type of acne that commonly appears on the face, particularly on the nose and chin.

blackmail

B2

To demand money, favors, or specific actions from someone by threatening to reveal embarrassing or damaging information about them. It involves using a person's secrets or weaknesses as a way to coerce them into compliance.

blackness

B2

The state, quality, or condition of being black or completely dark. In academic and sociological contexts, it often refers to the historical, cultural, and social identity associated with people of African descent.

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