resignation
Americannoun
-
resignations
plural
-
the act of resigning.
- Synonyms:
- abdication
-
a formal statement, document, etc., stating that one gives up an office, position, etc.
- Synonyms:
- abdication
-
an accepting, unresisting attitude, state, etc.; submission; acquiescence.
to meet one's fate with resignation.
- Synonyms:
- forbearance, compliance, patience
- Antonyms:
- recalcitrance
noun
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the act of resigning
-
a formal document stating one's intention to resign
-
a submissive unresisting attitude; passive acquiescence
Usage
What does resignation mean? Resignation is the act of resigning—quitting one’s job or giving up one’s position. In this context, it can also refer to the formal statement or document that announces a person’s intention to resign. This sense of the word is often used with the verb tender, meaning to formally offer or present, as in I’ve tendered my resignation, effective immediately. It can also be used as a modifier, as in resignation letter. Resignation can also mean an accepting, unresisting attitude or state of submission, as in There is a sense of resignation in the room now that most of the votes are in and there doesn’t appear to be any path to victory. Example: Several senior officials have tendered their resignations, but it’s unclear whether they will be accepted.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of resignation
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin resignātiōn-, stem of resignātiō “cancellation, rescinding,” from Latin resignāt(us) “canceled” (past participle of resignāre “to open, release, cancel”; see resign) + -iō -ion
Explanation
Resignation can mean either stepping down from a job or accepting an unpleasant but inevitable situation. You could even feel resignation as you announce your resignation. Once you've announced or handed in your formal resignation to a job, organization, or political office, you're finished. You've formally quit or stepped down. If you've left the position due to budget cuts, you'll probably leave with a feeling of resignation — acknowledging that there's absolutely nothing you can do about it.
Vocabulary lists containing resignation
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 1
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"The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs
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A Raisin in the Sun
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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.
See Examples For:
Driscoll’s resignation brings those problems firmly into the spotlight.
From Salon ● Sep. 4, 2026
Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling took over the oversight of the agency after Chavez-DeRemer’s resignation, and President Trump in June nominated him to be labor secretary.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submitted his resignation on Monday, following reports of tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
Gamble's resignation reduced the panel to five but it is still able to function, and could technically continue to operate if there were two more resignations.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
“Gwystyl,” said Doli, with a look of resignation, “you might as well go and fetch that powder you were talking about.”
From "The Black Cauldron" by Lloyd Alexander
Will sackings be required in the absence of any further resignations?
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
It prompted further resignations and another reported wave of roughly 75,000 digital cancellations in two days.
From Salon ● Aug. 25, 2026
Any exit from Southern California -- the capital of America's movie industry -- would likely spark a wave of resignations from workers unwilling to relocate.
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
While prime ministerial resignations are often intense affairs, there is actually a lot of waiting around as the world’s press gathers in Downing Street.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
We unanimously decided to tender our resignations on the grounds that we supported the boycott and did not enjoy the support of the majority of the students.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
