resignation

noun

res·​ig·​na·​tion ˌre-zig-ˈnā-shən 

1

a

: an act or instance of resigning something : surrender

The Board accepted the CEO's resignation.

b

: a formal notification of resigning

I turned in my resignation.

2

: the quality or state of being resigned : submissiveness

accepted the news with resignation

Examples of resignation in a Sentence

The chairman accepted their resignations.

The manager received resignations from three members of the staff.

We accepted the news with resignation.

Recent Examples on the Web

The settlement follows an FBI investigation that found roughly half of the Antioch police force had sent or received racist text messages, leading to mass administrative leave, resignations, and criminal convictions. —Da Lin, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025

Schwab announced Sherman’s resignation Thursday morning, but declined to provide a specific reason for the election official’s sudden departure. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 19 Dec. 2025

He was dismissed by then President Nana Akufo-Addo, his paternal cousin, at a time of soaring inflation and growing calls for his resignation from both opposition and ruling party MPs. —Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 19 Dec. 2025

Trudeau, who served as prime minister starting in 2015 and announced his resignation amid political pressure in January, and his wife Sophie Grégoire announced their separation in August 2023. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for resignation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

resignation

noun

res·​ig·​na·​tion ˌrez-ig-ˈnā-shən 

1

a

: an act of resigning

b

: a formal notice of this act

2

: the quality or the feeling of a person who is resigned