abdication

[ab-di-key-shuh n]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR abdication ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act or state of abdicating; renunciation.

Origin of abdication

First recorded in 1545–55, abdication is from the Latin word abdicātiōn- (stem of abdicātiō). See abdicate, -ion

Related formsnon·ab·di·ca·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for abdication

And if anyone thought this was an abdication and a letting go of the unruly region they need to think again.
Eastern Ukraine Braces for ‘Full-Scale War’|Jamie Dettmer|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tuesday was declared a day to “Save the Nation,” and people across the country once again demanded the abdication of SCAF.
Ahdaf Soueif’s Cairo: Remembering A City Wracked By The Arab Spring|Ahdaf Soueif|January 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So I made some records [Ed note: Life in Exile After Abdication is incredible] and toured and stuff.
Moe Tucker’s Tribute to Velvet Underground Bandmate Lou Reed|Harry Siegel|October 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
With the abdication of Queen Beatrix on Tuesday, the Dutch have a new queen—and a new fashion icon, as well.
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands Is a New Style Icon|Erin Cunningham|May 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Bergoglio is 76 years old—nine years younger than Benedict at the time of his abdication.
Introducing Pope Francis, Your New Papa|Eliza Shapiro, Lizzie Crocker|March 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Imperial Chancellor, on his own initiative, had summarily announced my abdication—which had not occurred yet at all!
The Kaiser's Memoirs|William II, German Emperor
After the edicts of abdication, the issue became one of ultra-idealist constitutionalism versus brutal military realism.
Government in Republican China|Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger
If the present writer ever learns the reasons of their abdication of this power, he will take occasion to tell them.
Ferragus|Honore de Balzac
Francis I died there in 1547, and as late as 1830 the last Charles, the tenth of that name, signed his abdication there.
The Car That Went Abroad|Albert Bigelow Paine
The King of Saxony accepted his deposition by a formal act of abdication two days later.
And the Kaiser abdicates|S. Miles Bouton

Word Origin and History for abdication

1550s, "a disowning," from Latin abdicationem (nominative abdicatio) "renunciation, abdication," noun of action from past participle stem of abdicare (see abdicate); sense of "resignation of sovereignty" is from 1680s.