derelict

[ der-uh-likt ]

/ ˈdɛr ə lɪkt /

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See synonyms for derelict on Thesaurus.com

adjective

left or deserted, as by the owner or guardian; abandoned: a derelict ship.

neglectful of duty; delinquent; negligent.

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR derelict

2 remiss, careless, heedless.

See synonyms for derelict on Thesaurus.com

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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

OTHER WORDS FROM derelict

der·e·lict·ly, adverbder·e·lict·ness, nounnon·der·e·lict, adjective, noun

Words nearby derelict

deregister, deregulate, deregulation, dereism, Derek, derelict, dereliction, derencephaly, derepress, derepression, derequisition

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use derelict in a sentence

The couple has bought one of Detroit’s many derelict homes, which can cost just a few thousand dollars, and are renovating it themselves.
These Children Are U.S. Citizens. They Need Help, But They Can't Get the Child Tax Credit|Belinda Luscombe|September 20, 2021|Time
Right now, what we still don't know about the remake could fill a haunted derelict infested with ravenous space zombies—and that's intentional.
EA bucks convention with preview of extremely unfinished Dead Space remake|Steve Haske|September 1, 2021|Ars Technica
Congress and the media would be derelict not to examine the decisions by Fauci and others that led to this collaboration.
What the fight between Anthony Fauci and Rand Paul is really about|Josh Rogin|July 22, 2021|Washington Post
The funds would be used for the renovation of derelict public schools, including remodeling and repainting deteriorating buildings and upgrading bathrooms to make them “more modern.”
Los Angeles Had a Chance to Build a Better City After the Rodney King Violence in 1992. Here's Why It Failed|Elizabeth Hinton|May 18, 2021|Time

She encounters a derelict starship, hostile androids, and — of course — an Alien.
The Best Single-Player Video Games to Play Right Now|Matthew Gault|March 9, 2020|Time
We stood on the rooftop of a derelict farmhouse meters away from a Turkish tank and a razor wire fence marking the end of Turkey.
Impotent U.S. Airstrikes, Passive Turks and an ISIS Triumph|Jamie Dettmer|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Today, all that remains of these Jewish holiday centers is a constellation of derelict buildings.
The Best of the Beast, Aug 25-31: High Schools, Houdini and Hip-Hop Jihadists|The Daily Beast|August 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He remembers, for example, living in Brooklyn Heights and trying to get booze from the “derelict liquor story nearby.”
Andrew Rannells Is Back On ‘Girls.’ You’ll Want to Give Him a Hug.|Kevin Fallon|February 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Daily Pic: In 1904 in Manhattan, the great Guastavino Co. gave palatial roofing to a subway station that's now derelict.
Vaulting Ambition in Early New York|Blake Gopnik|November 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
There were housing projects, and some truly derelict hotels where the very-down-on-their-luck lived.
How New York Could Get More Affordable Housing|Megan McArdle|March 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
A fair ship on a fair sea soon parts company with a derelict—unless it tows it.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
Yet he had gone twice in the fortnight at her call to help her through stormy nights with the derelict.
The Woman Gives|Owen Johnson
Erdil is a tiny derelict Christian village situated in the Oramar valley a little above its confluence with the Zab.
The Cradle of Mankind|W.A. Wigram
A dead ship, a derelict, come to them by merest chance from some unthinkably remote star.
Derelict|Alan Edward Nourse
Eyes turned curiously on the shambling derelict, but the only expression on Newt's face was one of surly defiance to the world.
The Code of the Mountains|Charles Neville Buck

British Dictionary definitions for derelict

derelict

/ (ˈdɛrɪlɪkt) /

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

Word Origin for derelict

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

derelict

OTHER WORDS FOR derelict

Origin of derelict

OTHER WORDS FROM derelict

Words nearby derelict

Words related to derelict

How to use derelict in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for derelict

Word Origin for derelict