DictionaryabrogateFailure to fulfill a duty
verb

abrogate

To evade or fail to carry out a responsibility.

The board abrogates its responsibility by refusing to investigate complaints.

Etymology

Latin abrogare meant to repeal or annul, especially a law. In the responsibility sense, that idea extends to treating an obligation as no longer binding and failing to fulfill it.

More examples

  • The report accused officials of abrogating their duty.
  • He had abrogated his responsibility to protect the records.
  • The director must not abrogate responsibility for safety.

Forms

abrogate · abrogates · abrogated · abrogating

Similar words

abdicate
The more usual verb for giving up responsibility.
neglect
Fails to provide attention without necessarily abandoning responsibility altogether.