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
Selling lakes, rivers and other water resources to private investors is a dereliction of duty.
—
Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The building has 201 outstanding housing-code violations, including leaks, roach infestations, black mold, and that most perilous of winter derelictions, a lack of consistent heat and hot water.
—Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Its absence feels like a big miss or, less charitably, a dereliction of duty.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
His dereliction of duty could be considered malfeasance and disqualification from running.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dereliction
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The building has 201 outstanding housing-code violations, including leaks, roach infestations, black mold, and that most perilous of winter derelictions, a lack of consistent heat and hot water.
—Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Its absence feels like a big miss or, less charitably, a dereliction of duty.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
His dereliction of duty could be considered malfeasance and disqualification from running.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 27 Sep. 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 15 Feb. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
