desertion

[ dih-zur-shuh n ]
/ dɪˈzɜr ʃən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR desertion ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of deserting or the state of being deserted.
Law. willful abandonment, especially of one's spouse without consent, in violation of legal or moral obligations.
an act of leaving military service or duty without the intention of returning.

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Origin of desertion

1585–95; < Late Latin dēsertiōn- (stem of dēsertiō) < Latin dēsert(us) (see desert1) + -iōn- -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM desertion

pre·de·ser·tion, nounself-de·ser·tion, noun

Words nearby desertion

desert soil, desert varnish, deserted, deserticolous, desertification, desertion, deserve, deserved, deservedly, deserving, desex
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to desertion

betrayal, falseness, disaffection, abrogation, dereliction, relinquishment, escape, truancy, apostasy, retirement, evasion, divorce, tergiversation, derelict, avoidance, resignation, flight, perfidy, renunciation, treachery

Example sentences from the Web for desertion

British Dictionary definitions for desertion

desertion
/ (dɪˈzɜːʃən) /

noun

the act of deserting or abandoning or the state of being deserted or abandoned
law wilful abandonment, esp of one's spouse or children, without consent and in breach of obligations
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