desertion

noun

de·​ser·​tion di-ˈzər-shən 

1

: an act of deserting

especially : the abandonment without consent or legal justification of a person, post, or relationship and the associated duties and obligations

filed for divorce on grounds of desertion

2

: a state of being deserted or forsaken

Synonyms of desertion

• abandonment

Examples of desertion in a Sentence

the soldiers were imprisoned for desertion of their posts

Recent Examples on the Web

Mary Cormier and David Butts, of Scott, were arrested and charged with second-degree cruelty to juveniles, child desertion, and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles, the Scott Police Department said in a statement. — Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

This is a melodrama of malicious secrets and manipulative lies that may lead to divorce, desertion and even death. — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026

The core of the story is the desertion and betrayal of Roseanna McCoy by all concerned. — Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026

Furthermore, the Ukrainian army is short-handed, facing around 200,000 troop desertions and draft-dodging by around 2 million people, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said in January. — ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin dēsertiōn-, dēsertiō, from dēserere "to part company with, abandon, leave uninhabited, leave in the lurch" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at desert entry 3

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for desertion

• assertion
• cistercian
• coercion
• exertion
• insertion
• mercian
• tertian
• overexertion
• reassertion

Legal Definition

desertion

noun

de·​ser·​tion

: the forsaking of a person, post, or relationship: as

a

: permanent withdrawal from living with one's spouse without the spouse's consent and without cause or justification

Note: Desertion is a ground for divorce in many states.

b

: intentional permanent termination of custody over one's child

also : abandonment

c

: abandonment of military duty without leave and without the intent to return