derelict

American  

[der-uh-likt] / ˈdɛr ə lɪkt /

adjective

1. left or deserted, as by the owner or guardian; abandoned.

   a derelict ship.

2. neglectful of duty; delinquent; negligent.

   Synonyms:

   heedless, careless, remiss

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noun

1. a person abandoned by society, especially a person without a permanent home and means of support; vagrant; bum.

2. Nautical. a vessel abandoned in open water by its crew without any hope or intention of returning.

3. personal property abandoned or thrown away by the owner.

4. one guilty of neglect of duty.

5. Law. land left dry by a change of the water line.

derelict British  

/ ˈdɛrɪlɪkt /

adjective

1. deserted or abandoned, as by an owner, occupant, etc

2. falling into ruins; neglected; dilapidated

3. neglectful of duty or obligation; remiss

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noun

1. a person abandoned or neglected by society; a social outcast or vagrant

2. property deserted or abandoned by an owner, occupant, etc

3. a vessel abandoned at sea

4. a person who is neglectful of duty or obligation

Other Word Forms

• derelictly adverb
• derelictness noun
• nonderelict adjective

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”; de-, relinquish

Example Sentences

After more than a half-century of neglect, a derelict, historic church known as the oldest building on Wilshire Boulevard may finally be restored to its spiritual mission.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

It has been derelict since 2007, according to local councillor Bill Cawley.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

The improvised prison pens—everything from old army barracks and training camps, barns and fairgrounds, derelict cotton warehouses and tobacco factories—were emptied out.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

Lebanon is dotted with derelict buildings, and many inhabited structures are in an advanced state of disrepair.

From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026

The city made good on its promise to bulldoze blighted areas, demolishing thousands of derelict houses and hundreds of crumbling businesses in Hayti.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

• desolate
• dilapidated
• dingy
• neglected
• ruined
• run down
• seedy
• shabby