desertion
Americannoun
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the act of deserting or abandoning or the state of being deserted or abandoned
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law wilful abandonment, esp of one's spouse or children, without consent and in breach of obligations
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of desertion
1585–95; < Late Latin dēsertiōn- (stem of dēsertiō ) < Latin dēsert ( us ) ( see desert 1) + -iōn- -ion
Vocabulary lists containing desertion
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But it has been rocked by several scandals, including hundreds of reports of desertion.
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
The charges included voluntary surrender, attempting to voluntarily surrender and desertion from a military unit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 22, 2025
This clueless performance will lead to a completely empty Rose Bowl and eventual desertion of NIL sponsors.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2025
The Franklin Institute acquired the plane in 1933, when Bergdoll was living as a fugitive in Germany, to which he had fled after his conviction for desertion.
From New York Times ● Nov. 29, 2024
His desertion of her, his long forgetfulness, could not be forgiven in a moment because of his need.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
