dep·ra·va·tion \ˌdeprəˈvāshən\noun (-s) Etymology: Middle French, from Latin depravation-, depravatio perversion, from depravatus + -ion-, -io -ion 1.obsolete: defamation, calumny 2.: the act or process of depraving or the state of being depraved : corruption, perversion, degeneracy, depravity; also: an instance of this