abdication — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The act of disowning or disinheriting a child.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

2. The act of abdicating; the renunciation of a high office, dignity, or trust, by its holder.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

3. The voluntary renunciation of sovereign power.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   abdication of the throne, government, power, authority

   the king’s abdication

   More examples (1)

   So yes: the abdication was when the Windsors opened the gate. After that it was – and will be – whack-a-mole. Every crisis will draw significant numbers of people out who would ask why you couldn’t cut off whoever was displeasing them in that moment.

4. The renunciation of interest in a property or a legal claim; abandonment.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

5. The action of being deposed from the seat of power.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

Noun

1. a formal resignation and renunciation of powers

   Synonyms

   stepping down

   Broader terms

   resignation

2. the act of abdicating

   Synonyms

   stepping down

   Broader terms

   resignation