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
the abandonment of a child/home
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 of abandonment

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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
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.
Brianna Willis, 34, and Joseph Kitara each face one count of abandonment of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence in felony prosecution, according to two Saline County charging documents. — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026 The process of becoming Malay, however, also implies the abandonment of their niche and their skill in magic. — H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 7 Aug. 2026 Ramona’s retaliation in her argument with Oona was that the latter was channeling her mother’s abandonment issues into their relationship. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026 The account merely has to satisfy Maryland’s statutory definition of abandonment. — Mark Lewyn, Baltimore Sun, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for abandonment

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

Browse Nearby Words

abandonee
abandonment
abandon oneself to
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Abandonment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abandonment. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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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

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