DERELICTION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does dereliction mean? 

• DERELICTION (noun)
  The noun DERELICTION has 2 senses:

1. a tendency to be negligent and uncaring

2. willful negligence

  Familiarity information: DERELICTION used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DERELICTION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A tendency to be negligent and uncaring

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

delinquency; dereliction; willful neglect

Context example:

his adolescent protest consisted of willful neglect of all his responsibilities

Hypernyms ("dereliction" is a kind of...):

neglect; neglectfulness; negligence (the trait of neglecting responsibilities and lacking concern)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Willful negligence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("dereliction" is a kind of...):

actus reus; misconduct; wrongdoing; wrongful conduct (activity that transgresses moral or civil law)

carelessness; neglect; negligence; nonperformance (failure to act with the prudence that a reasonable person would exercise under the same circumstances)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dereliction"):

nonfeasance (a failure to act when under an obligation to do so; a refusal (without sufficient excuse) to do that which it is your legal duty to do)

 Context examples 

“It is a gross dereliction of my duty. Stand back.”

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)