dilapidated

American  

[dih-lap-i-dey-tid] / dɪˈlæp ɪˌdeɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. reduced to or fallen into partial ruin or decay, as from age, wear, or neglect.

   Synonyms:

   rickety , ramshackle , run-down

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dilapidated British  

/ dɪˈlæpɪˌdeɪtɪd /

adjective

1. falling to pieces or in a state of disrepair; shabby

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Other Word Forms

• nondilapidated adjective
• undilapidated adjective

Etymology

Origin of dilapidated

First recorded in 1800–10; dilapidate + -ed ²

Example Sentences

The corner lot on which the club stands is now surrounded by hundreds of dilapidated and abandoned buildings occupied by squatters.

From The Wall Street Journal

"What about the Prince of Wales and Catherine? I wonder if their children would play in it. It's only going to be forgotten about, dilapidated, unless Prince William lets his kids play there."

From BBC

There, the classrooms offer a stark contrast to the dilapidated government schools, with painted walls, new desks, whiteboards and fans, and students in smart uniforms.

From Barron's

He said Crowborough was a "dilapidated old army camp", adding it would "cost a lot to set up" as accommodation for asylum seekers.

From BBC

King Charles' grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, brought the dilapidated rural castle back to life after falling in love with the building in the early 1950s.

From BBC

Related Words

• battered
• broken-down
• crumbling
• damaged
• decaying
• decrepit
• derelict
• dingy
• in ruins
• neglected
• ramshackle
• rickety
• run down
• seedy
• shabby
• unkempt