dereliction

[ der-uh-lik-shuhn ]

/ ˌdɛr əˈlɪk ʃən /

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See synonyms for dereliction on Thesaurus.com

noun

deliberate or conscious neglect; negligence; delinquency: dereliction of duty.

the act of abandoning something.

the state of being abandoned.

Law. a leaving dry of land by recession of the water line.

OTHER WORDS FOR dereliction

2 desertion.

See synonyms for dereliction on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of dereliction

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin dērelictiōn- (stem of dērelictiō ) “an abandoning,” equivalent to dērelict(us) (see derelict) + -iōn- -ion

synonym study for dereliction

1. See neglect.

Words nearby dereliction

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

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

How to use dereliction in a sentence

Collectively, their national commitments constitute a dereliction of duty on a global scale, and a damning failure of leadership and diplomacy.
Our Leaders Failed Us at COP26. To Succeed at COP27, They'll Need to Put Self-Interest Aside|Mary Robinson|November 18, 2021|Time
People in Texas died at disproportionate rates because of a dereliction on behalf of the governor.
In Texas-Mexico Border Towns, COVID-19 Has Had an Unconscionably High Death Toll|René Kladzyk, Phil Galewitz and Elizabeth Lucas | El Paso Matters and KHN|June 22, 2021|Time
Documents released on Friday suggest some could face criminal charges of dereliction of duty or negligence, but no charges have been announced.
Deadly Marine Corps disaster at sea was ‘tragic’ and ‘preventable,’ investigation finds|Dan Lamothe|March 26, 2021|Washington Post
This is a dereliction of duty, pure and simple—a firing offense.
Border Kids Crisis—Impotent Congress|John Avlon|July 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Christie still has time to learn from this dereliction of duty.
Why 'Bridgegate' Will Make or Break Chris Christie|John Avlon|January 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Seaman's mind-boggling dereliction of responsibility harms the state whose interests he was, and is, tasked with protecting.
Bullying Israeli Government Flack Sparks Diplomatic Row—Among Other Concerns|Noga Tarnopolsky|August 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
By rejecting this last attempt to suborn a dereliction of duty, Henry saved my reputation, my honor, my life, really.
John McCain’s Surprising Toast at Kissinger’s 90th Birthday Party|The Daily Beast|June 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It had suffered a sizeable brain drain, since over a third of its workforce was fired by Chavez for dereliction of duty.
Why Hugo Chavez Was Bad for Venezuela|Megan McArdle|March 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Nor are you deviating from Christian charity in not overlooking a dereliction of so material a sort.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
To abandon any part of the inheritance of primitive times would be gross heresy, a fatal dereliction of Christian duty.
The English Church in the Eighteenth Century|Charles J. Abbey and John H. Overton
By that time Jack had recovered his usual good nature, and was as ready to jest as his companion over his dereliction of duty.
Two Boys in Wyoming|Edward S. Ellis
The duties of both rank and file were strictly laid down by Washington, and any dereliction was punished with military strictness.
Revolutionary Reader|Sophie Lee Foster
I never heard of any of them being removed for incompetency, dereliction of duty or malfeasance.
The Journal of Negro History, Volume 5, 1920|Various

British Dictionary definitions for dereliction

dereliction

/ (ˌdɛrɪˈlɪkʃən) /

noun

deliberate, conscious, or wilful neglect (esp in the phrase dereliction of duty)

the act of abandoning or deserting or the state of being abandoned or deserted

law

accretion of dry land gained by the gradual receding of the sea or by a river changing its course
the land thus left

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

dereliction

OTHER WORDS FOR dereliction

Origin of dereliction

synonym study for dereliction

Words nearby dereliction

Words related to dereliction

How to use dereliction in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dereliction