Words / C1

di-teerr-ee-uh-RAYSHUN/dɪˌtɪəriəˈreɪʃn/

Deterioration is the process of becoming worse: deterioration in health, deterioration of kit. Deteriorate (already in the dictionary) is the verb; decline is a cousin; recovery sits opposite. A closer that no longer latches is a maintenance log, not “character”.

Meaning

The process of becoming worse in condition, quality, or health.

Examples

• “Deterioration of the fire-door closer is a maintenance log, not “character”.”
• “Decline is a cousin, often numbers. Decay can be organic. Character is a story about a building. A latch is hardware. Book the engineer; keep the adjectives for the heritage leaflet.”

Good to know

The process of getting worse. Verb: deteriorate (already in the dictionary). Close: decline. Hardware failure ≠ character.

Near in meaning

decline

New