derelict
Americanadjective
noun
-
a person abandoned by society, especially a person without a permanent home and means of support; vagrant; bum.
-
Nautical. a vessel abandoned in open water by its crew without any hope or intention of returning.
-
personal property abandoned or thrown away by the owner.
-
one guilty of neglect of duty.
-
Law. land left dry by a change of the water line.
adjective
-
deserted or abandoned, as by an owner, occupant, etc
-
falling into ruins; neglected; dilapidated
-
neglectful of duty or obligation; remiss
noun
-
a person abandoned or neglected by society; a social outcast or vagrant
-
property deserted or abandoned by an owner, occupant, etc
-
a vessel abandoned at sea
-
a person who is neglectful of duty or obligation
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of derelict
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”; see de-, relinquish
Explanation
If something has been abandoned, you can call it derelict. Even if a person has abandoned his responsibilities, you can say that he is derelict in his duties. But don't call a lost child derelict — unless, of course, he has neglected his chores. As an adjective, derelict describes something that is rundown, neglected, or in deplorable condition, but the word can also mean "negligent in duty." The politician was so busy using his office for personal gain that he was derelict in his duty to the people who voted for him; he hadn't been present at a vote in months. As a noun, a derelict means a homeless person.
Vocabulary lists containing derelict
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 1–7
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Rogue Wave," Vocabulary from the short story
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"To date, CMDR's Bounty Project, which pays a financial reward to licensed commercial fishers for marine debris removal, has removed 84 tons of large, derelict fishing gear from the Pacific Ocean."
From Science Daily • Jun. 28, 2026
As waves crashed against the derelict structure Monday morning, U.S.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026
Historic England ran a four-year programme to repurpose derelict and underused buildings as community spaces such as cinemas and market halls, and run cultural events, while in Walsall a £1.5bn regeneration project is planned.
From BBC • May 2, 2026
With oil backing up at home, Iran is reviving derelict sites known as “junk storage,” using improvised containers and trying to ship crude by rail to China.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026
A week later he was back at the derelict vehicle, apparently without regret.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
