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

• derelicts
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• derelictness
  noun
• nonderelict
  adjective
• derelictly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• derelicts
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

derelict derelicts

The building has been closed since 2019 and has become derelict in recent years, with a fire also started there deliberately last year.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

"Foreign plastic derelict fishing gear is the largest contributor of Hawaii's marine debris problem," shares Lynch.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 28, 2026

As waves crashed against the derelict structure Monday morning, U.S.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026

This market-driven renewal filled vacant lots and derelict sites, reduced blight, converted nonperforming parcels into taxpaying assets and created billions of dollars in new wealth for existing homeowners, with little evidence of widespread displacement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

Number 4: the tall, derelict bird’s nest of a house owned by her great-uncle Etienne.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

A host of bidders will compete for the drowned derelicts — some of whom may have less than honest intentions for the reselling of the rides.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 20, 2023

She noted that many of the roles offered to actors with natural hairstyles were often derelicts or villains.

From New York Times ● Apr. 28, 2022

It prioritizes derelicts that interfere with navigation, which this boat does not do.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 24, 2017

Who needs to see the melting pot of humanity that converges on the clear waters of Bora Bora when you can meet the derelicts who peddle $125 badges for $2,000?

From Golf Digest ● Mar. 13, 2017

Well-dressed tourists mingled with the derelicts of the quarter.

From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin

Related Words

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