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dereliction Definition

der·elic·tion (der′ə lik′s̸hən)

noun

  1. Now Rare an abandoning or forsaking
  2. Now Rare the state of being abandoned or forsaken
  3. a neglect of, or failure in, duty; a being remiss
  4. Law the gaining of land from water by the gradual retreat of the sea below the usual watermark

Etymology: L derelictio: see derelict

dereliction Synonyms

dereliction

n.

  1. Abandonment

    forsaking, desolation, relinquishment; see desertion.

  2. Delinquency

    negligence, evasion, nonperformance; see carelessness, crime 1, default.

dereliction Law Definition

n

  1. The committing of a breach, typically of a duty.
  2. An increase in land caused by the recession of sea, river, or other body of water formerly covering it. Ownership is a function of how rapidly the water receded. See also reliction.
dereliction Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • duty: Some 346 British soldiers were executed by firing squads for dereliction of duty.
  • site: Now the hope is tot tackle the dereliction of the Incline site itself, by reversing nature's claim over the remains.
  • responsibility: Not to do so would be a dereliction of responsibility and call into question the very purpose of the MMTA.
  • area: It was here in the 1970's that we found a safe overnight refuge in all the dereliction of this area.
  • building: Dereliction of traditional stone buildings is leading to loss of local landscape character.

Converse of object

  • commit: In living memory, our rulers have committed two main derelictions.
  • tackle: The principle does not apply to the cost of tackling dereliction.
  • avoid: This will reduce the demand for new buildings in the countryside, provide jobs and help avoid rural dereliction.

Noun used with modifier

  • city: About $ 5000 per American - what that could buy in America: some answer to their problem of inner city dereliction?
  • mining: Restoration Filled landfills offer opportunities for landscaping and development of public open space in areas of former industrial or mining dereliction.

Adjective modifier

  • gross: Rather, a gross dereliction of duty or recklessness is needed.
  • industrial: Ironically, the extensive legacy of post industrial dereliction also proved to be an asset.
  • urban: Small general stores could face closure followed, as always, by urban dereliction.
  • serious: This was a serious dereliction of duty on T'zers part.
  • environmental: These communities have been affected by the decline of the deep mining industry, resulting in environmental dereliction, unemployment, and depopulation.
  • near: The Bampfylde family connection lasted 400 years, through various vicissitudes, but 30 years ago St Mary's was rescued from near dereliction.

Preposition: in

  • area: Widespread environmental decay and dereliction in each community area has been exacerbated by vandalism and malicious damage.
  • town: This work has resulted in private investment into the town center, creating new business and reducing the amount of dereliction in the town.