NEWS Health News Word of the Week: Degenerative By Team Verywell Health Updated on June 18, 2021 Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Nick Blackmer Fact checked by Nick Blackmer LinkedIn Nick Blackmer is a librarian, fact-checker, and researcher with more than 20 years’ experience in consumer-oriented health and wellness content. Learn about our editorial process Share Tweet Email Print Alex Dos Diaz / Verywell Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology. Degenerative How to say it: Degenerative (dee-jen-er-ah-tiv) What it means: Relating to or causing degeneration (loss, decline, or deterioration) Where it comes from: The term degenerative comes from the word degenerate. In Latin, the word degeneratus meant "to be inferior to one's ancestors." MART PRODUCTION/Pexels Where you might see or hear it: Some medical conditions are considered to be “degenerative” because they cause a loss or breakdown of parts of the body. When this happens, a person might not be able to do the things that they normally do, such as waking or talking with ease. For example, if you have progressive multiple sclerosis, your doctor will probably explain that it is a degenerative condition. As nerves become damaged, you might start to find it more difficult to do the things that are a typical part of your day, like getting dressed, cooking meals, or even speaking. When you might want to use it: If you find out that you have a degenerative condition, you will want to talk to your loved ones about how it might change your life. You can explain that the word “degenerative” means that as the condition changes or damages your body, you might not be able to do certain things as well as you did before. You might need extra help with tasks (like grocery shopping or cleaning) or you might have to stop doing certain things (like driving). Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 0 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Merriam-Webster. Definition of Degenerative.