desertion
noun
de·ser·tion di-ˈzər-shən 
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
Synonyms
- abandonment
- dereliction
- forsaking
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the soldiers were imprisoned for desertion of their posts
Recent Examples on the Web At the moment when Gorbachev refused to send the Red Army into Eastern Europe to save the communist bloc, Putin was stationed with the KGB in East Germany and felt the sting of Moscow's desertion. 
Stephen Collinson, CNN, 30 Aug. 2022 While staff indicated a desertion report had been filed, no record of a report exists, according to the inspector general. James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2022 Hours after The Post interviewed Lapko and Khrus, members of Ukraine’s military security service arrived at their hotel and detained some of their men, accusing them of desertion. Sudarsan Raghavan, Anchorage Daily News, 27 May 2022 Hours after The Post interviewed Lapko and Khrus, members of Ukraine’s military security service arrived at their hotel and detained some of their men, accusing them of desertion. Sudarsan Raghavan, Anchorage Daily News, 27 May 2022 This week’s wholesale desertion by longtime political allies was all the more significant because many of the same social and political trends that elevated Mr. Trump to power have been taking root in Britain as well. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 July 2022 Hours after The Post interviewed Lapko and Khrus, members of Ukraine’s military security service arrived at their hotel and detained some of their men, accusing them of desertion. Sudarsan Raghavan, Anchorage Daily News, 27 May 2022 Hours after The Post interviewed Lapko and Khrus, members of Ukraine’s military security service arrived at their hotel and detained some of their men, accusing them of desertion. Sudarsan Raghavan, Anchorage Daily News, 27 May 2022 Before the new process for separation came into effect, an individual had to accuse a spouse of desertion, adultery, or unreasonable behavior to be able to petition for a divorce. Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 May 2022 See More
Stephen Collinson, CNN, 30 Aug. 2022 While staff indicated a desertion report had been filed, no record of a report exists, according to the inspector general. James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2022 Hours after The Post interviewed Lapko and Khrus, members of Ukraine’s military security service arrived at their hotel and detained some of their men, accusing them of desertion. Sudarsan Raghavan, Anchorage Daily News, 27 May 2022 Hours after The Post interviewed Lapko and Khrus, members of Ukraine’s military security service arrived at their hotel and detained some of their men, accusing them of desertion. Sudarsan Raghavan, Anchorage Daily News, 27 May 2022 This week’s wholesale desertion by longtime political allies was all the more significant because many of the same social and political trends that elevated Mr. Trump to power have been taking root in Britain as well. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 July 2022 Hours after The Post interviewed Lapko and Khrus, members of Ukraine’s military security service arrived at their hotel and detained some of their men, accusing them of desertion. Sudarsan Raghavan, Anchorage Daily News, 27 May 2022 Hours after The Post interviewed Lapko and Khrus, members of Ukraine’s military security service arrived at their hotel and detained some of their men, accusing them of desertion. Sudarsan Raghavan, Anchorage Daily News, 27 May 2022 Before the new process for separation came into effect, an individual had to accuse a spouse of desertion, adultery, or unreasonable behavior to be able to petition for a divorce. Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1
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
desertions
noun
as in abandonments
the act of abandoning the soldiers were imprisoned for desertion of their posts Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- abandonments
- defections
- derelictions
- tergiversations
- discards
- dumpings
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reclamations
- repossessions
- retrievals
- recoupments
- retentions