abandonment

noun

aban·​don·​ment ə-ˈban-dən-mənt How to pronounce abandonment (audio)
1
: the act of abandoning something or someone
In its family and social contexts, he argues, the abandonment of children was, if not a "good thing," at least the most feasible means of family limitation during the many centuries when other methods were largely ineffective or, in the case of Christians, prohibited.Mary Martin McLaughlin
2
: the state of being abandoned
fear of abandonment
The opulence of her life as an expat wife failed to soothe her feelings of abandonment, boredom and oppression.Bob Shacochis
sometimes used before another noun
abandonment issues

Examples of abandonment in a Sentence

sang at the top of her lungs with complete abandonment in the shower the law says abandonment by the owner of any building for more than a year entitles the city to sell it the park commissioner cited cost considerations as the main reason for the project's abandonment
Recent Examples on the Web Researchers also suggest that narcissists’ behavior may possibly stem from a deeper fear of abandonment. Mark Travers, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024 Good leaders know that serving the public interest first also means recognizing that the fears, anxieties and the sense of abandonment that have exhausted millions of Americans are legitimate sensibilities that need assuaging. Michael S. Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 6 Oct. 2024 In a frantic effort to avoid abandonment, their relationships can be intense. Sharon Kwon, Health, 19 Sep. 2024 Her friend Trong is clearly depressed about a number of things, including abandonment by his own estranged mother, who followed a ballet dancer career path that Ha openly discusses venturing down herself. Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for abandonment 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abandonment.' 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

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of abandonment was in 1593

Dictionary Entries Near abandonment

Cite this Entry

“Abandonment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abandonment. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.

Legal Definition

abandonment

noun
aban·​don·​ment
1
: the act of abandoning property or a right: as
a
: relinquishment by an inventor of the right to enforce a patent see also dedication
b
: an author's relinquishment to the public domain of his or her copyrighted work
c
: relinquishment of a trademark established by a failure to use the trademark and an intention never to resume use
d
: the act of an insured in surrendering all rights to damaged or lost property to an insurer as a total loss compare salvage sense 2b
e
: relinquishment by a trustee in bankruptcy of interest in property in the bankruptcy estate often for a nominal sum
2
: the act of abandoning a person: as
a
: failure to have contact with a spouse that is intended to create a permanent separation
b
: failure to communicate with or provide financial support for one's child over a period of time that shows a purpose to forgo parental duties and rights
3
: the act of abandoning a contract
4
a
: the act of abandoning a course of action (as a crime)
b
: the affirmative defense (as recognized under the Model Penal Code) of voluntary withdrawal from the commission of a crime resulting from the actor's change of heart and not from intervening circumstances

More from Merriam-Webster on abandonment

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