desertion
/di'zə:ʃn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. The act of abandoning or forsaking someone or something, especially in violation of a duty, promise, or allegiance. It implies a willful departure and a complete withdrawal of support, leaving the person or thing behind in a helpless or difficult situation. 2. (Military/Legal) The act of leaving one's military post, duty, or service without permission and with no intention of returning. This is a serious offense.
Usage
- Desertion is a formal and serious word, often used in legal, military, and sociological contexts.
- It carries a strong negative connotation of betrayal, neglect, and failure of responsibility.
- It is typically followed by the preposition "of" (e.g., desertion one's post) or "by" (e.g., desertion a spouse).
Examples
- General Usage:
- The soldier was court-martialed for desertion.
- Her husband's sudden desertion left her to raise three children alone.
- The desertion of the project by its main investor caused its collapse.
- Military/Legal Context:
- During the war, the penalty for desertion was severe.
- The lawyer argued that his client's absence did not constitute desertion under the law.
Advanced Usage
- Constructive Desertion: (Legal) A situation where one spouse's behavior is so intolerable that it forces the other spouse to leave the home. The offending spouse is then considered to have committed desertion.
- The court found his chronic abuse amounted to constructive desertion, making him financially responsible.
- Criminal Desertion: (Legal) The willful abandonment of a spouse or children without providing support and with no intent to return, which can be a criminal offense.
- He was charged with criminal desertion for leaving his family destitute.
Variants and Related Words
- Desert (verb): To abandon or leave without permission or support. (e.g., )
- Deserter (noun): A person who deserts, especially a soldier.
- Abandonment (noun): A broader term for leaving something or someone, often permanently. Desertion is a specific type of abandonment involving duty or allegiance.
Synonyms
- Abandonment
- Forsaking
- Dereliction (of duty)
- Defection (especially from a country or cause)
- Absconding
Antonyms
- Loyalty
- Fidelity
- Adherence
- Support
- Commitment
Related Phrases
- Charge of desertion: The formal accusation of the crime of desertion.
- He faced a charge of desertion before the military tribunal.
- Wife/Husband/Child desertion: Specific legal terms for abandoning one's family.
- The old laws on wife desertion have been updated.
Noun
- the act of giving something up
- withdrawing support or help despite allegiance or responsibility
- his abandonment of his wife and children left them penniless