putrescence vs putrefaction

putrescence and putrefaction both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
putrescence	Yes	No	No	No
putrefaction	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, putrefaction is a hypernym of putrescence; that is, putrefaction is a word with a broader meaning than putrescence:

Other hypernyms of putrescence include rot.

putrescence (noun)	putrefaction (noun)
the quality of rotting and becoming putrid	moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles
in a state of progressive putrefaction	(biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action
	a state of decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor