Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A process, condition, or period of deterioration or decline, as in morals or art; decay.
  • noun A literary movement especially of late 19th-century France and England characterized by refined aestheticism, artifice, and the quest for new sensations.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A falling off or away; the act or process of falling into an inferior condition or state; the process or state of decay; deterioration.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A falling away; decay; deterioration; declension. “The old castle, where the family lived in their decadence.”

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A state of moral or artistic decline or deterioration; decay

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the state of being degenerate in mental or moral qualities

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French décadence, from Old French decadence, from Medieval Latin dēcadentia, a decaying, declining, from Vulgar Latin *dēcadere, to decay; see decay.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French décadence, from Medieval Latin decadentia ("decay"), from *decadens ("decaying"), present participle of *decadere ("to decay"); see decay.

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Examples

  • Although I am loathe to use the word, the term decadence comes to mind.

    Archive 2006-10-01 Matt Johnston 2006

  • Although I am loathe to use the word, the term decadence comes to mind.

    America: The Un-Serious Nation Matt Johnston 2006

  • On the other, Ramadan TV talk shows on state-sponsored television featuring racily dressed female hosts discussing intimate sex secrets with celebrities have sparked outrage from conservatives, denouncing what they call the decadence that is sweeping the nation.

    Statesman - AP Sports 2009

  • On the other, Ramadan TV talk shows on state-sponsored television featuring racily dressed female hosts discussing intimate sex secrets with celebrities have sparked outrage from conservatives, denouncing what they call the decadence that is sweeping the nation.

    unknown title 2009

  • On the other, Ramadan TV talk shows on state-sponsored television featuring racily dressed female hosts discussing intimate sex secrets with celebrities have sparked outrage from conservatives, denouncing what they call the decadence that is sweeping the nation.

    unknown title 2009

  • On the other, Ramadan TV talk shows on state-sponsored television featuring racily dressed female hosts discussing intimate sex secrets with celebrities have sparked outrage from conservatives, denouncing what they call the decadence that is sweeping the nation.

    Long Island Press 2009

  • On the other, Ramadan TV talk shows on state-sponsored television featuring racily dressed female hosts discussing intimate sex secrets with celebrities have sparked outrage from conservatives, denouncing what they call the decadence that is sweeping the nation.

    unknown title 2009

  • In a post-Apocalyptic world where supernaturals have emerged from hiding, wealthy humans delight in decadence while the religious gain power through temptation.

    Angels' Blood Countdown: Jory Strong - Ghostland ARC Nalini Singh 2009

  • In a post-Apocalyptic world where supernaturals have emerged from hiding, wealthy humans delight in decadence while the religious gain power through temptation.

    Archive 2009-02-01 Nalini Singh 2009

  • Take heart, things are gonna be rough, in many ways over the next decade, the soft and spoiled days of cheap energy are over, decadence is about to implode.

    Most Expensive Living Artist - Lucian Freud 2008

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