Dereliction
noun
The state of being abandoned or neglected.
The old building showed signs of dereliction and disrepair.
Often appears as...
- dereliction of duty
- state of dereliction
noun
A failure to fulfill a duty or responsibility.
The officer was accused of dereliction of duty.
Often appears as...
- dereliction of duty
- gross dereliction
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Legal
noun
A piece of property that has been abandoned or neglected.
The dereliction sat empty for several years before it was renovated.
Often appears as...
- state of dereliction
- signs of dereliction
Usage tips
Real Estate
noun
The state of being abandoned or neglected.
The old building showed signs of dereliction and disrepair.
Often appears as...
- dereliction of duty
- state of dereliction
noun
A failure to fulfill a duty or responsibility.
The officer was accused of dereliction of duty.
Often appears as...
- dereliction of duty
- gross dereliction
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Legal
noun
A piece of property that has been abandoned or neglected.
The dereliction sat empty for several years before it was renovated.
Often appears as...
- state of dereliction
- signs of dereliction
Usage tips
Real Estate
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Deterioration
Dereliction can describe physical objects that are visibly deteriorating due to neglect.
The mansion fell into dereliction after years of being unoccupied.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Tone
The word carries a tone of sadness or disapproval, reflecting neglect's negative impact.
Seeing the dereliction of the once-vibrant park was truly disheartening.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Just Buildings
Dereliction isn't limited to structures; it can refer to any neglected state or condition.
The deserted dogs were a clear case of dereliction by their previous owner.
Compare with
abandondefaultdelinquencydesertionfailureforsakeneglectnegligence
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Quote examples
Keir Starmer
British Politician
I would reject wholeheartedly any notion of a Labour Party that is not committed to returning to power at the first opportunity. Of course that needs to be principled power. But standing on the sidelines looking for the purest ideology is a dereliction of the duty for any Labour member.
Quote examples
Jan Mark
British Writer
When writers for adults contemplate Venice, they behold decay, dereliction and death. Thomas Mann, Daphne du Maurier, L. P. Hartley and Salley Vickers have all dispatched hapless protagonists to Italy, where they see Venice - and die.
Quote examples
Anthony Zinni
American Statesman
In the lead up to the Iraq war and its later conduct, I saw at a minimum, true dereliction, negligence and irresponsibility, at worse, lying, incompetence and corruption.
Quote examples
Klaus Schwab
German Economist
A winner-takes-all economy that offers only limited access to the middle class is a recipe for democratic malaise and dereliction.
Quote examples
Keir Starmer
British Politician
I would reject wholeheartedly any notion of a Labour Party that is not committed to returning to power at the first opportunity. Of course that needs to be principled power. But standing on the sidelines looking for the purest ideology is a dereliction of the duty for any Labour member.
Quote examples
Jan Mark
British Writer
When writers for adults contemplate Venice, they behold decay, dereliction and death. Thomas Mann, Daphne du Maurier, L. P. Hartley and Salley Vickers have all dispatched hapless protagonists to Italy, where they see Venice - and die.
Quote examples
Anthony Zinni
American Statesman
In the lead up to the Iraq war and its later conduct, I saw at a minimum, true dereliction, negligence and irresponsibility, at worse, lying, incompetence and corruption.
Quote examples
Klaus Schwab
German Economist
A winner-takes-all economy that offers only limited access to the middle class is a recipe for democratic malaise and dereliction.
Example 1 of 4
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