Degeneracy: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe a state of moral or cultural decline, often with a negative connotation.

• The city fell into a state of degeneracy due to rampant corruption and crime

Refers to the process of becoming progressively worse in physical, mental, or quality aspects.

• The deterioration of the building was evident from the cracks in the walls

Describes the process of decline in physical, moral, or mental qualities.

• The athlete suffered from muscle degeneration after years of strenuous activity

Typically refers to the gradual destruction or deterioration of physical objects or organic matter.

• The old house showed signs of decay as the wood started to rot

In scientific contexts, especially in physics or chemistry, it refers to the condition where two or more different states share the same energy level.

• The concept of degeneracy is important in quantum mechanics.
• Understanding electron degeneracy pressure is crucial for studying white dwarf stars.

Often has a negative connotation, referring to something that is unnecessarily repetitive or superfluous. In the workplace, it might also refer to job loss due to positions being deemed unnecessary.

• The report was criticized for containing too much redundancy.
• Due to technological advancements, many workers faced redundancy.

Used to describe a large number or variety of something, often in a neutral or positive context to emphasize diversity or multiple aspects.

• The multiplicity of cultural traditions makes the region unique.
• His argument was supported by a multiplicity of data points.

Generally used in neutral or scientific contexts to describe differences or fluctuations within a dataset or system.

• The variability in temperatures is explained by climate patterns.
• There is considerable variability in the test scores among the students.