verb
abdicate
AB-dih-kayt
verb
1
To formally give up a position of power, especially a throne.
"The king abdicated in favor of his younger brother."
2
To fail to carry out a duty or responsibility one is expected to fulfill.
"Critics said the board had abdicated its responsibility to oversee spending."
How to Use Abdicate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo formally step down from power or duty, most famously used for monarchs giving up the throne.
Common mistake
Not the same as "resign" — "abdicate" is used almost exclusively for monarchs and formal positions of sovereign power, while "resign" is the general word for quitting a job.
Easily confused with
abdicate vs. resign
Common pairings
abdicate the throne
abdicate responsibility
Word Forms
abdicated past tense, abdicates singular
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The king _____ in favor of his younger brother.
Etymology
From Latin abdicāre, "to renounce or reject", from ab- ("away") and dicāre ("to proclaim").