What does "abandonment" mean?
The act of abandoning, or the state of being abandoned; total desertion; relinquishment.
Abandonment
/əˈbæn.dn̩.mn̩t/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of abandoning, or the state of being abandoned; total desertion; relinquishment.
- Grammar: abandonment is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: desertion, defection, forsaking, rejection.
- Useful contrasts: biological care, full settlement, public monument dedication.
- Usage evidence: With North Korea's announcement on the 26th of its nuclear development plan based upon the agreement stemming from the Six Party Talks, and the United States' commencement of procedures to remove North Korea from its designation on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, the families of abductees have expressed growing unease that it may constitute an abandonment of the abductee issue.
How to use "abandonment"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "abandonment" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "abandonment" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "abandonment" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "abandonment" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "abandonment" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "desertion" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "abandonment", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of abandoning, or the state of being abandoned; total desertion; relinquishment. countable, uncountable
"To what are we reserved? An adequate compensation "for the sacrifice of powers the most nearly connected with us;"— an adequate compensation "for the direct or indirect annexation to France ot all the ports of the continent, from Dunkirk to Hamburgh;"— an adequate compensation "for the abandonment of the independence of Europe!""
- 2 withdrawing support or help despite allegiance or responsibility wordnet
- 3 The voluntary leaving of a person to whom one is bound by a special relation, as a wife, husband or child; desertion. countable, uncountable
"Since he left her, she's suing him for divorce on grounds of abandonment."
- 4 the voluntary surrender of property (or a right to property) without attempting to reclaim it or give it away wordnet
- 5 An abandoned building or structure. countable, uncountable
"High-profile abandonments are harder to infiltrate for urban explorers due to their heightened security."
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 the act of giving something up wordnet
- 7 The relinquishment of a right, claim, or privilege; relinquishment of right to secure a patent by an inventor; relinquishment of copyright by an author. countable, uncountable
- 8 The relinquishment by the insured to the underwriters of what may remain of the property insured after a loss or damage by a peril insured against. countable, uncountable
- 9 The cessation of service on a particular segment of the lines of a common carrier, as granted by a government agency. countable, uncountable
"The railway was in fact shifted in 1937 a little to the west, over a distance of a quarter-mile, to make room for the by-pass at this point, but complete abandonment was firmly vetoed because of the proved strategic value of the line."
- 10 A refusal to receive freight so damaged in transit as to be worthless and render carrier liable for its value. countable, uncountable
- 11 The self-surrender to an outside influence. countable, uncountable
- 12 Abandon; careless freedom or ease; surrender to one's emotions. countable, uncountable
"Roger, in terms of the strengths he brought to the band, was wild abandonment. So if Howard was in the pocket, Roger was bouncing off the walls, and Nancy was somewhere in the middle."
Antonyms
biological carefull settlementpublic monument dedicationspanish cultura
Example
"With North Korea's announcement on the 26th of its nuclear development plan based upon the agreement stemming from the Six Party Talks, and the United States' commencement of procedures to remove North Korea from its designation on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, the families of abductees have expressed growing unease that it may constitute an abandonment of the abductee issue."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "abandonment"?
Common synonyms include: desertion, defection, forsaking, rejection, relinquishment, renunciation.
How do you use "abandonment" in a sentence?
With North Korea's announcement on the 26th of its nuclear development plan based upon the agreement stemming from the Six Party Talks, and the United States' commencement of procedures to remove North Korea from its designation on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, the families of abductees have expressed growing unease that it may constitute an abandonment of the abductee issue.
How do you pronounce "abandonment"?
Pronounced /əˈbæn.dn̩.mn̩t/.
Etymology
From French abandonnement, from abandonner (“to abandon, relinquish”). abandonner was originally equivalent to mettre à bandon (“to leave to the jurisdiction, i.e. of another”), bandon being from Medieval Latin bandum, bannum (“order, decree, ban”). Equivalent to abandon + -ment. (See also English banns.)