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desertion

[ dih-zur-shuh n ]
/ dɪˈzɜr ʃən /
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SEE MORE 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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RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

  1. desert varnish,
  2. deserted,
  3. deserter,
  4. deserticolous,
  5. desertification,
  6. deserve,
  7. deserved,
  8. deservedly,
  9. deserving,
  10. desex
Compare AWOL.

Origin of desertion

1585–95; < Late Latin dēsertiōn- (stem of dēsertiō) < Latin dēsert(us) (see desert1) + -iōn- -ion
Related formspre·de·ser·tion, nounself-de·ser·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples 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
Word Origin and History for desertion

desertion

n.

1590s, from Middle French désertion (early 15c.), from Late Latin desertionem (nominative desertio) "a forsaking, abandoning," noun of action from past participle stem of Latin deserere (see desert (v.)).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper