derelict

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈdɛrɪlɪkt/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈdɛrəlɪkt/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(der′ə likt)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
der•e•lict /ˈdɛrəlɪkt/USA pronunciation   adj. 
  1. [often before a noun] left or deserted;
    abandoned:a derelict ship.
  2. neglecting duty;
    delinquent:fired for being derelict in his duties.

n. [countable]
  1. a person who has no home or means of support;
    vagrant.
  2. any abandoned possession, as a vessel left in open water.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
der•e•lict  (der′ə likt),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. left or deserted, as by the owner or guardian;
    abandoned:a derelict ship.
  2. neglectful of duty;
    delinquent;
    negligent.

n. 
  1. a person abandoned by society, esp. a person without a permanent home and means of support;
    vagrant;
    bum.
  2. Nautical, Naval Termsa vessel abandoned in open water by its crew without any hope or intention of returning.
  3. personal property abandoned or thrown away by the owner.
  4. one guilty of neglect of duty.
  5. Lawland left dry by a change of the water line.
  • Latin dērelictus forsaken (past participle of dērelinquere), equivalent. to dē- de- + relictus past participle of relinquere to leave, abandon; see relinquish
  • 1640–50
der′e•lict•ly, adv. 
der′e•lict•ness, n. 
    2. remiss, careless, heedless.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
derelict /ˈdɛrɪlɪkt/ adj
  1. deserted or abandoned, as by an owner, occupant, etc
  2. falling into ruins; neglected; dilapidated
  3. neglectful of duty or obligation; remiss
 n
  1. a person abandoned or neglected by society; a social outcast or vagrant
  2. property deserted or abandoned by an owner, occupant, etc
  3. a vessel abandoned at sea
  4. a person who is neglectful of duty or obligation
Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin dērelictus forsaken, from dērelinquere to abandon, from de- + relinquere to leave
'derelict' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
derro - down-and-out - ramshackle - rubby - adventure playground - bum - dereliction - graveyard - remiss - troll - wino - skell

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