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

But House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) said Smith’s resignation should have occurred much earlier. —Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 14 Dec. 2025

Environmental historians estimated that by the end of 2025, about one in three EPA staffers that were at the agency at the start of the year will be gone, from both layoffs and resignations. —Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025

Council member Jesse Zahn spoke at length about his concerns with Carnahan and explicitly called for her resignation. —Stephen Swanson, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025

This is Fortune 500 Power Moves, a column tracking executive shifts—from appointments and promotions to resignations and retirements—within the highest ranks of Fortune 500 companies. —Fortune Editors, Fortune, 12 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