rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryabdicationRelinquishing office
noun

abdication

ab-dih-KAY-shuhn/ˌæbdɪˈkeɪʃn/

The relinquishment of an office or responsibility.

The king's abdication allows his daughter to take the throne.

An empty royal throne with a crown and scepter set aside on a cushion while former ruler walks away in simple cloak, act of relinquishing office.
Etymology
abLatinaway, off
+dicLatinto proclaim
+ationLatinact or process

“Away” and “proclaim” combine in a Latin verb meaning “disown” or “reject.” The noun's sense of renunciation became specifically associated with giving up sovereignty, connecting rejection of a claim with surrendering a throne.

In context

TED9:05
it represents the abdication of regulation with criminals filling the void
Ethan Nadelmann: Why we need to end the War on Drugs

More examples

  • The ministers prepared for the monarch's abdication.
  • Ignoring those warnings was an abdication of responsibility.
  • The historian compares two royal abdications during the century.

Forms

abdication · abdications

Similar words

resignation
Usually refers to leaving an ordinary job or office.
renunciation
Emphasizes formally rejecting a claim, right, or belief.