desertion
UK /dɪˈzɜːʃən/ US /dɪˈzɝʃən/ Syllables: de-ser-tion
Quick answer
The act of leaving someone or something without permission, especially abandoning a duty or the military.
Desertion is the act of leaving someone or something behind, especially a duty, a post or a person who depends on you. In the armed forces, desertion means leaving military service without permission and without meaning to return. In law it can mean abandoning a spouse or children without consent. The word can also describe a place that people leave, as in the desertion of a village. Close words are abandonment, defection, flight and betrayal. The opposite is loyalty, or staying. The verb is desert, with the stress on the second syllable, and the person is a deserter. Do not confuse desert the verb with desert the dry land or with dessert, the sweet course.
"The soldier was punished for desertion after leaving his post."Meanings
- Leaving the armed forces or a duty without permission and without intending to return.
- Abandoning a person, such as a spouse or child, who depends on you.
- The state of a place being left empty.
Example sentences
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"Desertion from the army was punished severely."
Level B2, Meaning 1
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"The captain was shocked by the desertion of so many sailors."
Level C1, Meaning 1
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"He was charged with desertion after leaving his post."
Level B2, Meaning 1
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"The desertion of the village followed the long drought."
Level C1, Meaning 3
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"She felt hurt by her friend's sudden desertion."
Level C1, Meaning 2
Synonyms and antonyms
Synonyms
Look-alikes and common mistakes
- defection : Defection is leaving one side to join another, such as a country or a party. Desertion is leaving a duty or a person.
- abandonment : Abandonment is the general word for giving something up. Desertion stresses a broken duty.
- dessert : Dessert is the sweet course of a meal. It has a double s.
- desert : As a noun, desert means dry land, with the stress on the first syllable. As a verb, it means to leave, with the stress on the second.
Word family and forms
Forms: desertions
Word partners
Words and phrases that often go with "desertion".
- desertion from the army
- charged with desertion
- mass desertion
- desertion of duty
- desertion rate
- desertion of a village
Origin
Desertion entered English in the late 1500s. Wiktionary traces it to Middle French desertion, and Dictionary.com to Late Latin desertio, which is built on the Latin desertus, meaning abandoned. In English it can also be read as the verb desert plus the ending ion.
Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Dictionary.com.
How to remember it
Desertion is the noun for the verb desert, to leave. A deserter leaves behind a post, and the act is desertion.
Test yourself
Which word fits the gap? "_____ from the army was punished severely."
Answer: desertion
In your own words, what does "desertion" mean?
The act of leaving someone or something without permission, especially abandoning a duty or the military.
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Sources and credits
- Wiktionary, the free dictionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) · used for the origin, meanings, pronunciation · checked Nov 2, 2026
- Dictionary.com · used for the origin, meanings, word family · checked Nov 2, 2026
- Cambridge Dictionary · used for the meanings, pronunciation · checked Nov 2, 2026
Last reviewed November 2, 2026. Report a mistake on this page