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

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

Ukraine faces severe personnel shortages with around 200,000 military desertions and 2 million draft-dodgers, threatening its ability to sustain the war against Russia’s 2022 invasion. —Kirsten Grieshaber, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026

The Iranian regime is recruiting children and sending out mass recruitment messages via text, signaling there may be truth to the White House’s claim that the Islamic regime is suffering widespread desertions. —Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 4 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
• 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