Standard Lemma guide

debasement

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /dɪˈbeɪsmənt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪsmənt
  • CMU ARPABET: D AH0 B EY1 S M AH0 N T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act of debasing or the state of being debased; a lowering or degradation, especially in character or quality.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: abasement, debauchment, degradation, adulteration, corruption, debasement, defilement, depravation, depravement, impurification, perversion, pollution, profanation, aggravation, degeneration, deterioration, devolution, embasement, exacerbation, ruining, withering, worsening, wrecking

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The lowering of the value of a currency by reducing the amount of valuable metal in the coins.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

changing to a lower state (a less respected state)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: degradation

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change of state

Narrower terms: dehumanization, dehumanisation, brutalization, brutalisation, animalization, animalisation, barbarization, barbarisation, bastardization, bastardisation, corruption, subversion, demoralization, demoralisation, stultification, constipation, impairment, deadening, popularization, popularisation, vulgarization, vulgarisation, profanation, humiliation, abasement

4

noun

Meaning 4

being mixed with extraneous material; the product of adulterating

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: adulteration

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: impurity, impureness

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English debase Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-mentom Latin -mentum Old French -mentbor. Middle English -ment English -ment English debasement From debase + -ment.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Esperanto: malaltigo — The act of debasing or the state of being debased
  • French: avilissement — The act of debasing or the state of being debased
  • German: Münzentwertung — The lowering of the value of a currency by reducing the amount of valuable metal in the coins
  • Spanish: envilecimiento — The lowering of the value of a currency by reducing the amount of valuable metal in the coins
  • Ukrainian: псува́ння моне́т (psuvánnja monét) — The lowering of the value of a currency by reducing the amount of valuable metal in the coins