dereliction

American  

[der-uh-lik-shuhn] / ˌdɛr əˈlɪk ʃən /

noun

1. deliberate or conscious neglect; negligence; delinquency.

   dereliction of duty.

2. the act of abandoning something.

   Synonyms:

   desertion

3. the state of being abandoned.

4. Law. a leaving dry of land by recession of the water line.

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dereliction British  

/ ˌdɛrɪˈlɪkʃən /

noun

1. deliberate, conscious, or wilful neglect (esp in the phrase dereliction of duty )

2. the act of abandoning or deserting or the state of being abandoned or deserted

3. law

   1. accretion of dry land gained by the gradual receding of the sea or by a river changing its course

   2. the land thus left

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Related Words

See neglect.

Etymology

Origin of dereliction

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin dērelictiōn- (stem of dērelictiō ) “an abandoning,” equivalent to dērelict(us) ( derelict ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

This was described as an "extraordinary dereliction of duty" in the evidence of Sir Jon Coles, chief executive of the United Learning trust.

From BBC

Failing to navigate a relationship with China, he said, would be a "dereliction of duty" when China is a "defining force in technology, trade and global governance".

From BBC

His unfathomable chase of Starc's second delivery of a new spell, just as twilight arrived, was a dereliction of duty.

From BBC

Describing the failure to have a relationship with China as a "dereliction of duty", he called for a "serious approach".

From Barron's

However, failing to navigate a relationship with China would be "a dereliction of duty", the prime minister said, when China is a "defining force in technology, trade and global governance".

From BBC

Related Words

• evasion
• negligence