derelict

[der-uh-likt]

adjective

1. left or deserted, as by the owner or guardian; abandoned.

   a derelict ship.

2. neglectful of duty; delinquent; negligent.

   Synonyms: heedless, careless, remiss

noun

1. a person abandoned by society, especially a person without a permanent home and means of support; vagrant; bum.

2. Nautical.,  a vessel abandoned in open water by its crew without any hope or intention of returning.

3. personal property abandoned or thrown away by the owner.

4. one guilty of neglect of duty.

5. Law.,  land left dry by a change of the water line.

derelict

/ ˈdɛrɪlɪkt /

adjective

1. deserted or abandoned, as by an owner, occupant, etc

2. falling into ruins; neglected; dilapidated

3. neglectful of duty or obligation; remiss

noun

1. a person abandoned or neglected by society; a social outcast or vagrant

2. property deserted or abandoned by an owner, occupant, etc

3. a vessel abandoned at sea

4. a person who is neglectful of duty or obligation

Other Word Forms

• derelictly adverb
• derelictness noun
• nonderelict adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of derelict¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin dērelictus “forsaken” (past participle of dērelinquere ), equivalent to dē- “from, away from” + relictus, past participle of relinquere “to leave, abandon”; de-, relinquish

Word History and Origins

Origin of derelict¹

C17: from Latin dērelictus forsaken, from dērelinquere to abandon, from _de- + relinquere to leave

Example Sentences

It remained dark and derelict for nearly 20 years.

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She said she had seen the building become derelict in recent years and that it needed to be preserved.

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Investigating the remote, derelict town of Shelby Oaks was Riley’s last known project.

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A total of £3m has now been raised in grant funding, and in the new year, work will begin to restore the floors and roof to the 75% of the castle that is mostly derelict.

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According to the Verona prosecutor, Raffaele Tito, the farmhouse was in a derelict state and had no electricity.

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Related Words

• desolate 
• dilapidated 
• dingy 
• neglected www.thesaurus.com
• ruined www.thesaurus.com
• run down 
• seedy 
• shabby