deterioration meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

deterioration

noun

UK /dɪˌtɪəɹɪəˈɹeɪʃən/ · US /dəˌti.ɹi.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/

Etymology Borrowed from French détérioration; morphologically deteriorate + -ion.

The process of making or growing worse, or the state of having grown worse.

From 1945 onwards, deterioration in the condition of the brickwork in the arch soffits was kept under close observation, and in 1951 it was decided that strengthening must be undertaken.1954 January, “Strengthening of Coquet Viaduct”, in Railway Magazine, page 18:
The Queen may be celebrating her jubilee but the Queen's English Society, which has railed against the misuse and deterioration of the English language, is to fold.2012 June 4, Lewis Smith, “Queen’s English Society says enuf is enough, innit?: Society formed 40 years ago to protect language against poor spelling and grammar closes because too few people care”, in The Guardian, London, archived from the original on 10 Mar 2016:

3 more examples

"The quantum sensors will provide highly accurate measurements that will help to detect the rate of change of the track and subsequently, any deteriorations which might lead to faults."2020 November 18, “Network News: Researchers team up on navigation data system”, in RAIL, page 23:
But the firm noted concrete deterioration deep within the pool’s wall and corbel, a type of support structure, requiring “aggressive excavation of concrete.”2021 July 2, Eliott C. McLaughlin, Alta Spells, Francesca Giuliani-Hoffman, “Firm held off on repairs because of stability issues in months before Surfside building collapse”, in CNN, archived from the original on 22 Nov 2021:
V-Dem lists the characteristics of autocratization as deteriorations in freedom of expression, the decline of free and fair elections, and the centralization of authority.2025 September 16, “Can democracy survive without America?”, in The Hankyoreh, archived from the original on 15 Nov 2025:

Synonyms: aggravation, corruption, debasement, degeneration, degradation, deterioration, devolution, embasement, exacerbation, ruining, withering, worsening, wrecking
Antonyms: amelioration, betterment, improval, improvement
Derived terms: biodeterioration, deterioratingly, deteriorationism, deteriorationist, neurodeterioration, nondeteriorating, photodeterioration, undeteriorating
Related terms: deteriorate, vitiation, pejoration, aggravate, deteriorated, worsen
Hypernyms: change, intensification
Hyponyms: bastardization, dilapidation, distortion, corrosion, emaciation, erosion, retrogression