Decadent Definition Meaning

To be decadent is to be in the process of decay, so a powerful nation may be said to be in a decadent stage if its power is fading. But the word is more often used to speak of moral decay.

Fascinated by the materiality of language, the decadent text frequently cultivates its own shiny, polished surfaces and neglects the plot.

If you say that a person or society is decadent, you think that they have low moral standards and are interested mainly in pleasure.

decadent (ˈdɛkədənt) adj 1. characterized by decay or decline, as in being self-indulgent or morally corrupt

Definition of decadent adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. having or showing low standards, especially moral ones, and an interest only in pleasure and fun rather than serious things. …

decadent, adj. & n. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary