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marode

run-down, dilapidated, in poor condition

adjective ma-ROH-de Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Conditions

Origin: from French maraud (rogue), via military slang

Also means

ailing (economy, institution)

Usage Note

marode describes infrastructure, buildings, or institutions that have deteriorated badly — ein marodes Schulsystem, marode Brücken. It is common in journalistic language about failing public structures. Applied to a person it means physically exhausted.

Examples

"Die maroden Straßen in der Region warteten seit Jahren auf Sanierung."

Natural Translation

The run-down roads in the region had been waiting for renovation for years.

Literal Translation

The dilapidated roads in the region waited for years on renovation.

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