1
: an act of deserting
especially : the abandonment without consent or legal justification of a person, post, or relationship and the associated duties and obligations
sued for divorce on grounds of desertion
2
: a state of being deserted or forsaken

Examples of desertion in a Sentence

the soldiers were imprisoned for desertion of their posts
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In November 2024, Shamika Mitchell, 38, was convicted of unlawful desertion of a child and aggravated child abuse, according to the State’s Attorney for Florida’s 7th Circuit. Kc Baker, People.com, 3 Feb. 2025 Earlier this week, Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation detained two generals and a colonel, with one commander arrested for not informing the authorities about a mass desertion of troops. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025 King, 24, was charged in October under the Uniform Code of Military Justice with 14 offenses, including desertion, assault against officers and solicitation of child pornography. Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2025 Meanwhile the Germans and Russians were executing tens of thousands of soldiers for desertion and other allegedly cowardly acts, including attempting to surrender to the enemy. Chris Walsh, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2015 See all Example Sentences for desertion 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin dēsertiōn-, dēsertiō, from dēserere "to part company with, abandon, leave uninhabited, leave in the lurch" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at desert entry 3

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of desertion was in 1591

Dictionary Entries Near desertion

Cite this Entry

“Desertion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desertion. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.

Legal Definition

desertion

noun
de·​ser·​tion
: the forsaking of a person, post, or relationship: as
a
: permanent withdrawal from living with one's spouse without the spouse's consent and without cause or justification

Note: Desertion is a ground for divorce in many states.

b
: intentional permanent termination of custody over one's child
also : abandonment
c
: abandonment of military duty without leave and without the intent to return

More from Merriam-Webster on desertion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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