dereliction

noun

der·​e·​lic·​tion ˌder-ə-ˈlik-shən 

ˌde-rə-

1

a

: an intentional abandonment

b

: the state of being abandoned

2

: a recession of water leaving permanently dry land

3

a

: intentional or conscious neglect : delinquency

dereliction of duty

b

: fault, shortcoming

Synonyms

• abandonment
• desertion

Examples of dereliction in a Sentence

the dereliction of a cause by its leaders

The officer was formally charged with dereliction of duty.

a serious dereliction of duty

Recent Examples on the Web

Central Park, after sliding into dereliction through the 1970s, now tends to itself, thanks to a private conservancy, wealthy neighbors, and its superstar status. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 9 Sep. 2025

Three Army Reserve leaders were disciplined for dereliction of duty. —Jade Walker, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025

There are consequences for dereliction of duty. —Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025

There are consequences for dereliction of duty. —Saul Elbein, The Hill, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for dereliction

• antifriction
• benediction
• contradiction
• crucifixion
• interdiction
• jurisdiction
• malediction
• addiction
• affliction
• constriction
• conviction
• depiction

Kids Definition

dereliction

noun

der·​e·​lic·​tion ˌder-ə-ˈlik-shən 

1

: the act of abandoning : the state of being abandoned

the dereliction of a cause by its leaders

2

: neglect of one's duty

Legal Definition

dereliction

noun

der·​e·​lic·​tion ˌder-ə-ˈlik-shən 

1

a

: an intentional abandonment

b

: a state of being abandoned

2

: a recession of water leaving permanently dry land

3

: an intentional or conscious neglect

dereliction of duty