dejection

noun

de·​jec·​tion di-ˈjek-shən 

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.

Synonyms of dejection

• sadness
• depression
• melancholy
• sorrowfulness
• sorrow

Examples of dejection in a Sentence

I find that ice cream often works wonders when trying to overcome dejection.

Recent Examples on the Web

The dejection briefly abated when people standing along the metal doors of the theater heard muffled cheers when the taping began, bringing a few smiles to the gathering. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 21 May 2026

Where there is excitement and bravado, Neto can also show dejection when the results aren’t going in his favor. —Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 20 May 2026

The air of dejection spreads to the boardroom. —Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 11 May 2026

Channeling ’90s slowcore and post-rock into gorgeously brooding odes to dejection, the Chicago quartet’s debut is downer music at its most alluring. —Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 13 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dejection

• abjection
• advection
• affection
• bijection
• bisection
• collection
• complexion
• confection
• connection
• connexion
• convection
• correction

Kids Definition

dejection

noun

de·​jec·​tion di-ˈjek-shən 

: lowness of spirits

Medical Definition

dejection

noun

de·​jec·​tion -ˈjek-shən 

1

: lowness of spirits : depression, melancholy

2

a

: the act or process of defecating

b

: feces, excrement