desertion

American  

[dih-zur-shuhn] / dɪˈzɜr ʃən /

noun

1. the act of deserting or the state of being deserted.

2. Law. willful abandonment, especially of one's spouse without consent, in violation of legal or moral obligations.

3. an act of leaving military service or duty without the intention of returning.

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desertion British  

/ dɪˈzɜːʃən /

noun

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

2. law wilful abandonment, esp of one's spouse or children, without consent and in breach of obligations

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Other Word Forms

• predesertion noun
• self-desertion noun

Etymology

Origin of desertion

1585–95; < Late Latin dēsertiōn- (stem of dēsertiō ) < Latin dēsert ( us ) ( see desert ¹) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

One of his first initiatives is an audit of battlefield losses -- ranking commanders based on casualty levels, in an attempt to address high levels of desertion among rank-and-file troops and the unpopularity of mobilisation.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

The charges included voluntary surrender, attempting to voluntarily surrender and desertion from a military unit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 22, 2025

There have been nearly 300,000 cases of desertion, or soldiers going absent without official leave, since the start of Russia's full scale invasion - and numbers have risen dramatically over the past year.

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2025

Her father’s desertion dealt a crushing blow to Barbara, who adored him.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 29, 2025

Instead there was that same look of desertion he’d become accustomed to: no people, but boxes filled with papers covering the furniture and the floor.

From "The Dead and the Gone" by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Related Words

• betrayal