dereliction
noun
der·e·lic·tion
ˌder-ə-ˈlik-shən 
ˌde-rə-
1
a
: an intentional abandonment
b
: the state of being abandoned
2
: a recession of water leaving permanently dry land
3
a
: intentional or conscious neglect : delinquency
dereliction of duty
b
: fault, shortcoming
Examples of dereliction in a Sentence
the dereliction of a cause by its leaders
The officer was formally charged with dereliction of duty.
a serious dereliction of duty
Recent Examples on the Web
Ernst charged public employees with widespread absenteeism and dereliction of duty.
—
Charlie Tyson, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025
Amid this strangulation, Californication, and dereliction, Governor Moore loudly proclaims that the solution is growth.
—John Teichert, Baltimore Sun, 3 Mar. 2025
Beyond anyone who might have openly disregarded what could be compared to jury instructions, though, anyone else could merely have voted for others just to avoid Tyrer or abstain from voting for him without it being exposed as dereliction of duty.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2025
The implication is that this dereliction explains why the institution is inert and unresponsive to the American people.
—Lorelei Kelly, The Conversation, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dereliction
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Charlie Tyson, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025
Amid this strangulation, Californication, and dereliction, Governor Moore loudly proclaims that the solution is growth.
—John Teichert, Baltimore Sun, 3 Mar. 2025
Beyond anyone who might have openly disregarded what could be compared to jury instructions, though, anyone else could merely have voted for others just to avoid Tyrer or abstain from voting for him without it being exposed as dereliction of duty.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2025
The implication is that this dereliction explains why the institution is inert and unresponsive to the American people.
—Lorelei Kelly, The Conversation, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dereliction
Cite this Entry
“Dereliction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dereliction. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dereliction
noun
der·e·lic·tion
ˌder-ə-ˈlik-shən
1
: the act of abandoning : the state of being abandoned
the dereliction of a cause by its leaders
2
: neglect of one's duty
Legal Definition
dereliction
noun
der·e·lic·tion
ˌder-ə-ˈlik-shən
1
a
: an intentional abandonment
b
: a state of being abandoned
2
: a recession of water leaving permanently dry land
3
: an intentional or conscious neglect
dereliction of duty
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