retrogression

IPA/ˌret.rəˈɡreʃ.ən/
IPA/ˌret.rəˈɡreʃ.ən/

retrogression — noun

1. A movement backward to an earlier, less developed, or poorer condition than what

1.名詞C2
釋義

A movement backward to an earlier, less developed, or poorer condition than what existed before, especially in areas such as politics, economics, or social welfare.

例句

Sivan said cutting school funds would cause a retrogression in educational standards.

retrogression in + noun (domain/area)

After years of steady progress, the sudden retrogression of civil rights shocked many observers.

同義詞
  • regression

    more common and less formal; used in similar contexts

  • decline

    broader meaning; can refer to gradual worsening without implying a return to a previous state

  • deterioration

    emphasises worsening in quality or condition

  • backsliding

    informal; often used for moral or behavioural relapse

反義詞

文法句型

retrogression (in/of/to + noun)

用法筆記

Uncountable in most contexts; a/an is rare but occasionally used (e.g. 'a retrogression in standards'). Frequently followed by in or of to specify the domain.

常見錯誤

❌The economy experienced a retrogression backward.
✅The economy experienced a retrogression.
💡'retrogression' already means moving backward; adding 'backward' is redundant.

2. The process by which a species, organism, or biological feature loses complex st

2.名詞C2
釋義

The process by which a species, organism, or biological feature loses complex structures and returns to a simpler or more primitive form, often because those structures are no longer needed for survival.

例句

Astrid explained how retrogression in cave fish caused them to lose their eyesight over generations.

retrogression in + species — biological context

Certain parasites undergo an evolutionary retrogression, shedding organs not needed inside a host.

同義詞
  • degeneration

    more general; can refer to any loss of quality or function, not necessarily evolutionary

  • devolution

    can describe biological simplification but also political transfer of power

  • atavism

    the reappearance of ancestral traits in an individual, a specific type of retrogression

反義詞
  • evolution

    the process of developing greater complexity over generations

  • development

    forward growth toward more advanced forms

  • progression

    movement toward greater complexity or organisation

文法句型

retrogression (to/into + noun)

evolutionary retrogression

用法筆記

Technical term in evolutionary biology. Can be used countably in academic writing (e.g. 'several retrogressions in the fossil record'). Not used for temporary changes — implies a lasting loss of complexity across generations.

常見錯誤

❌The flower showed retrogression during the drought.
✅The plant's leaf structure showed retrogression after many generations in low light.
💡'retrogression' describes an evolutionary (multi-generational) loss, not a temporary seasonal change.