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

Its defense minister last week reported some 200,000 troop desertions and draft-dodging by about 2 million Ukrainians. —Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026

Its defense minister last week reported some 200,000 troop desertions and draft-dodging by about 2 million Ukrainians. —Kamila Hrabchuk, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026

Rumours of low morale and high desertion rates have been swirling around for a long time, but Fedorov’s comments mark the first time any Ukrainian official has disclosed the scale of the problem. —Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 14 Jan. 2026

The relative desertion of the streets shows the strategy has paid off. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Jan. 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
• 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