abandonment
UK: əˈbændənmənt | US: əˈbændənmənt
n. the act of leaving something or someone permanently and without intention to return
n. the state of being deserted or forsaken
n. (law) the relinquishment of a right, claim, or privilege
The word traces back to Old French, where abandoner originally meant "to surrender under someone's control." Over time, it evolved to imply complete relinquishment or desertion. The suffix -ment was added in Middle English to nominalize the verb, solidifying its meaning as "the act or result of abandoning."
The abandonment of the old factory left the town economically struggling.
Her sudden abandonment of the project surprised everyone.
The dog suffered from separation anxiety after its abandonment.
Legal abandonment of property requires formal documentation.
The novel explores themes of love and abandonment.