reckless abandonment

American  

[rek-lis uh-ban-duhn-muhnt] / ˈrɛk lɪs əˈbæn dən mənt /

noun

Law.

1. the crime of deliberately and permanently leaving a child alone and in a condition or situation that leads to the child’s death.

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Commonly Confused

Reckless abandonment and reckless abandon both involve being reckless and abandoning someone or something, but they are quite different. Reckless abandonment is the serious crime of abandoning or deserting a child in circumstances that result in the child’s death; it is reckless because it indicates a total disregard for the welfare of a helpless or dependent person and for the consequences of one’s actions towards that person. Reckless abandon, on the other hand, is an attitude of abandoning or throwing off one’s inhibitions and giving oneself up to a passion or enthusiasm for something. It is reckless because no attention is paid to possible cost, the opinions of others, or the assumed rules of “sensible” behavior.

Etymology

Origin of reckless abandonment

First recorded in 1820–30, for an earlier sense

Example Sentences

“No one is recommending a reckless abandonment of common sense,” he said.

From Washington Post • Feb. 2, 2023

The reckless abandonment can get put into the work, and I don’t need to go seek it out.

From New York Times • Jan. 19, 2022

How could he possibly go from a life of reckless abandonment to one of such disciplined self-interest?

From The Guardian • Mar. 17, 2018

The memories swirled, silver white and strange, and without hesitating, with a feeling of reckless abandonment, as though this would assuage his torturing grief, Harry dived.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

And he began to speak with a sort of reckless abandonment of himself to the guidance of the moment, a mood of mind which had become very frequent with him of late.

From A Charming Fellow, Volume III (of 3) by Trollope, Frances Eleanor