abandonment

noun

aban·​don·​ment ə-ˈban-dən-mənt How to pronounce abandonment (audio)
Synonyms of abandonmentnext
1
: the act of abandoning something or someone
In its family and social contexts, he argues, the abandonment of children was, if not a "good thing," at least the most feasible means of family limitation during the many centuries when other methods were largely ineffective or, in the case of Christians, prohibited.—Mary Martin McLaughlin
2
: the state of being abandoned
fear of abandonment
The opulence of her life as an expat wife failed to soothe her feelings of abandonment, boredom and oppression.—Bob Shacochis
—sometimes used before another noun
abandonment issues

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of abandonment in a Sentence

sang at the top of her lungs with complete abandonment in the shower the law says abandonment by the owner of any building for more than a year entitles the city to sell it the park commissioner cited cost considerations as the main reason for the project's abandonment
Recent Examples on the Web Less than a week after the latest firings and the abandonment of the minimum rate, Alphabet shares surged after the company reported strong revenue growth and announced its first-ever dividend and a new $70 billion round of stock buybacks. —Toni Allen, Fortune, 3 May 2024 The contest seeks out apps that address issues including animal abandonment, safely reporting domestic violence, and access to mental health services. —IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for abandonment 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abandonment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of abandonment was in 1593

Phrases Containing abandonment

Dictionary Entries Near abandonment

abandonee

abandonment

abandon oneself to

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Abandonment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abandonment. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

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Legal Definition

abandonment

noun
aban·​don·​ment
1
: the act of abandoning property or a right: as
a
: relinquishment by an inventor of the right to enforce a patent see also dedication
b
: an author's relinquishment to the public domain of his or her copyrighted work
c
: relinquishment of a trademark established by a failure to use the trademark and an intention never to resume use
d
: the act of an insured in surrendering all rights to damaged or lost property to an insurer as a total loss compare salvage sense 2b
e
: relinquishment by a trustee in bankruptcy of interest in property in the bankruptcy estate often for a nominal sum
2
: the act of abandoning a person: as
a
: failure to have contact with a spouse that is intended to create a permanent separation
b
: failure to communicate with or provide financial support for one's child over a period of time that shows a purpose to forgo parental duties and rights
3
: the act of abandoning a contract
4
a
: the act of abandoning a course of action (as a crime)
b
: the affirmative defense (as recognized under the Model Penal Code) of voluntary withdrawal from the commission of a crime resulting from the actor's change of heart and not from intervening circumstances

More from Merriam-Webster on abandonment

Nglish: Translation of abandonment for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of abandonment for Arabic Speakers

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