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
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
The Taylor family arrived at their cabin to find it in a state of dereliction.
—
Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
One verdict is already declared in the Karen Read murder case: The Massachusetts State Police are guilty in the first degree of dereliction of duty.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 17 June 2025
What with weakened teams and consistently pathetic performances, their league form on both their parts has been pathetic enough to be termed a dereliction of duty.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Already insurance carriers are cancelling homeowner policies and doubling or more the premiums on many others as one consequence of our city government’s dereliction.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dereliction
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Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
One verdict is already declared in the Karen Read murder case: The Massachusetts State Police are guilty in the first degree of dereliction of duty.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 17 June 2025
What with weakened teams and consistently pathetic performances, their league form on both their parts has been pathetic enough to be termed a dereliction of duty.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Already insurance carriers are cancelling homeowner policies and doubling or more the premiums on many others as one consequence of our city government’s dereliction.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dereliction
Cite this Entry
“Dereliction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dereliction. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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