Definition

A situation where something is abandoned or neglected, often referring to duties or responsibilities that are not fulfilled.

Example

The company's dereliction of its environmental responsibilities led to severe consequences.

Conversation

I was reading about the dereliction of some old buildings in the city.

That sounds interesting! What do they say about it?

They mentioned how it reflects a lack of care and attention from the community.

Yeah, it’s sad to see places fall into such dereliction.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Dereliction is formed from "de-" (meaning down or away) and "relictio" (from Latin, meaning to abandon or leave behind). The word describes the act of abandoning or neglecting a duty or responsibility.

Memory Tip

Think of 'down' or 'away' ('de-') from something that is 'abandoned' ('relictio') — this helps you remember that dereliction means neglecting a duty.

Visually Confused Words