dejection

noun

de·​jec·​tion di-ˈjek-shən How to pronounce dejection (audio)
dē-
: lowness of spirits

Did you know?

Based partly on the Latin iacere, "to throw", dejection means literally "cast down"—that is, "downcast". Like melancholy, gloom, and even sadness, dejection seems to have been declining in use for many years; instead, we now seem to prefer depression (whose roots mean basically "a pressing down"). Since depression is also the word used by doctors, lots of people now assume that anyone depressed should be taking an antidepressant; if we went back to dejected and dejection, we might not be so quick to make that assumption.

Examples of dejection in a Sentence

I find that ice cream often works wonders when trying to overcome dejection.
Recent Examples on the Web Through June 2019, Zoe’s Kitchen was still rapidly deteriorating, and its financial losses and worker dejection were taking a toll on Cava. Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2024 Watson missed out on an additional $40,000 in the bonus round, prompting him to moan in dejection. Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2024 Both converge on Disaster Trick as the group homes in on epiphanies from dejection and emotional freefall. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 16 Aug. 2024 The pangs of dejection are as pleasurably depicted as the euphorics of an early connection. Simon Wu, The New Yorker, 6 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dejection 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dejection.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dejection was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near dejection

Cite this Entry

“Dejection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dejection. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

dejection

noun
de·​jec·​tion di-ˈjek-shən How to pronounce dejection (audio)
: lowness of spirits

Medical Definition

dejection

noun
de·​jec·​tion -ˈjek-shən How to pronounce dejection (audio)
1
: lowness of spirits : depression, melancholy
2
a
: the act or process of defecating

More from Merriam-Webster on dejection

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