degenerative
adjective
de·gen·er·a·tive di-ˈje-nə-rə-tiv 
-ˈjen-rə-;
-ˈje-nə-ˌrā-;
dē-
: of, relating to, involving, or causing degeneration
a degenerative disease
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Degenerative diseases—including cancer, glaucoma, Parkinson's, diabetes, arthritis, and leprosy—are usually contrasted with infectious diseases (diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa). However, many infectious diseases (Lyme disease, AIDS, etc.) can cause a body or body part to degenerate, and infective organisms play a part in some degenerative diseases. Some degenerative diseases can be controlled; some can even be cured. But no one has yet discovered a way to reverse such degenerative conditions as multiple sclerosis, emphysema, or Alzheimer's.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web There’s another potential problem with Mpox — it’s already the name of a degenerative disease that afflicts mutants, including X-Men such as Rogue and Cyclops, in the Marvel universe. 
Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2022 Next, meet Michael Zampella who has a degenerative eye disease. Vicki Salemi, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022 Former Alabama coach and player Ray Perkins, who died in 2020, suffered from the degenerative brain disease known as CTE. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 8 Aug. 2022 The degenerative brain disease has come to be most often associated with N.F.L. players, but it has also been found in other athletes. New York Times, 7 Aug. 2022 Shasta's death follows months of treatment for a degenerative spinal disease, according to a remembrance posted to the Houston Zoo's site on Friday. Dan Carson, Chron, 5 Aug. 2022 To save her sister from a degenerative disease, Diane takes part in the first clinical trials of an experimental molecule. Marta Balaga, Variety, 3 Aug. 2022 The cause of death was degenerative disease of the nervous system. Sam Whiting, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 July 2022 The cause is personal for Halls, whose longtime friend and mentor, Nanci Ryder, was diagnosed with the degenerative disease and later passed away from it. Jolene Latimer, PEOPLE.com, 13 July 2022 See More
Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2022 Next, meet Michael Zampella who has a degenerative eye disease. Vicki Salemi, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022 Former Alabama coach and player Ray Perkins, who died in 2020, suffered from the degenerative brain disease known as CTE. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 8 Aug. 2022 The degenerative brain disease has come to be most often associated with N.F.L. players, but it has also been found in other athletes. New York Times, 7 Aug. 2022 Shasta's death follows months of treatment for a degenerative spinal disease, according to a remembrance posted to the Houston Zoo's site on Friday. Dan Carson, Chron, 5 Aug. 2022 To save her sister from a degenerative disease, Diane takes part in the first clinical trials of an experimental molecule. Marta Balaga, Variety, 3 Aug. 2022 The cause of death was degenerative disease of the nervous system. Sam Whiting, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 July 2022 The cause is personal for Halls, whose longtime friend and mentor, Nanci Ryder, was diagnosed with the degenerative disease and later passed away from it. Jolene Latimer, PEOPLE.com, 13 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
circa 1846, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
degenerative
adjective
de·gen·er·a·tive di-ˈjen-ə-ˌrāt-iv -ˈjen-(ə-)rət-
-ˈjen-(ə-)rət- : of, relating to, involving, or tending to cause degeneration
degenerative conditions of the nervous system Morris Fishbein
Morris Fishbeindegenerative changes
a degenerative muscle disorder