desertion

noun

de·​ser·​tion di-ˈzər-shən How to pronounce desertion (audio)
1
: an act of deserting
especially : the abandonment without consent or legal justification of a person, post, or relationship and the associated duties and obligations
sued for divorce on grounds of desertion
2
: a state of being deserted or forsaken

Examples of desertion in a Sentence

the soldiers were imprisoned for desertion of their posts
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The locals preferred to remain inside, and because their windowless houses guarded their privacy the village often had a disquieting air of desertion. Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024 Pyongyang may also stare down issues with desertion and defection, Yeo noted. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 Travis King, the US soldier who ran across the border from South Korea to North Korea last year, was sentenced to one year in confinement and dishonorable discharge after pleading guilty to charges of desertion and assault. Andrew Torgan, CNN, 22 Sep. 2024 Travis King, the Army private who dashed into North Korea from South Korea in 2023, has pled guilty to desertion and other charges. Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for desertion 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin dēsertiōn-, dēsertiō, from dēserere "to part company with, abandon, leave uninhabited, leave in the lurch" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at desert entry 3

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of desertion was in 1591

Dictionary Entries Near desertion

Cite this Entry

“Desertion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desertion. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Legal Definition

desertion

noun
de·​ser·​tion
: the forsaking of a person, post, or relationship: as
a
: permanent withdrawal from living with one's spouse without the spouse's consent and without cause or justification

Note: Desertion is a ground for divorce in many states.

b
: intentional permanent termination of custody over one's child
also : abandonment
c
: abandonment of military duty without leave and without the intent to return

More from Merriam-Webster on desertion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!