Dereliction

/ˌdɛr.əˈlɪk.ʃən/

Meaning & Definition

noun

the act of abandoning or neglecting a duty or responsibility.

The manager was reprimanded for the dereliction of her duties, which led to several mistakes in the project.

the state of being abandoned or neglected.

The dereliction of the once-thriving neighborhood led to an increase in crime and decay.

the willful neglect of one's responsibilities.

His dereliction in caring for the estate resulted in its rapid decline.

a failure to fulfill a legal or moral obligation.

The politician faced accusations of dereliction of duty after failing to address the concerns of his constituents.

the act of neglecting duties regarding a person or property.

The case of child dereliction brought to light the dangers of inadequate supervision.

Derived from the Latin word 'derelictio', which means 'abandonment'.

dereliction of duty

Failure to complete one's responsibilities or obligations.

willful dereliction

Intentional neglect or abandonment of responsibility.

abandon

To leave something behind or to stop caring for it.

neglect

To fail to care for something properly.

derelict

In a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect.