resignation
rehz-ihg-NAY-shuhn
Resignation (noun) means the act of formally giving up a job or position, or the letter announcing it. Example: “The manager's resignation took effect at the end of the month.”
noun
1
The act of formally giving up a job or position, or the letter announcing it.
"The manager's resignation took effect at the end of the month."
"He handed in his resignation on Friday."
"Her resignation surprised the whole team."
2
A calm, uncomplaining acceptance of something unwanted but unavoidable.
"He accepted the long delays with quiet resignation and opened his book."
"A look of resignation crossed her face when the rain began again."
"She spoke with a note of resignation about the delayed diagnosis."
How to use resignation
Learner’s notes
Common pairings
submit a resignation
letter of resignation
a tone of resignation
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Word forms
- Plural
- resignations
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The manager's _____ took effect at the end of the month.
Etymology
From Old French resignation, from Medieval Latin resignatio, from "resign" plus "-ation".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for resignation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for resignation →
Frequently asked questions
What does “resignation” mean?
The word “resignation” means the act of formally giving up a job or position, or the letter announcing it.
How do you pronounce “resignation”?
“Resignation” is pronounced rehz-ihg-NAY-shuhn (/ˌɹɛz.ɪɡˈneɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “resignation” in a sentence?
Here is “resignation” used in a sentence: “He handed in his resignation on Friday.”
What is another word for “resignation”?
Words with a similar meaning to “resignation” include resignment.
What part of speech is “resignation”?
“Resignation” is a noun.
Where does the word “resignation” come from?
The word “resignation” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French resignation, from Medieval Latin resignatio, from "resign" plus "-ation".
Is “resignation” a common word?
“Resignation” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “resignation” have?
“Resignation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of formally giving up a job or position, or the letter announcing it.
What is the difference between resignation and retirement?
A resignation is the act of formally giving up a job or position at any stage of a career, usually to move on to something else. Retirement means leaving working life altogether, typically at the end of a career. You resign from a specific post, but you retire from work in general.
How can resignation mean both quitting a job and accepting something?
Both senses share the underlying idea of giving something up. Formally, a resignation is the act of surrendering a job or position, or the letter announcing it. Figuratively, resignation is the calm, uncomplaining acceptance of something unwanted but unavoidable, as in "she shrugged with resignation".
Is it correct to say "hand in your resignation"?
Yes. Common collocations include handing in, submitting, and tendering your resignation, all meaning to formally announce that you are leaving a job. "Tender your resignation" is the most formal of the three, while "hand in your resignation" is the everyday choice.
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