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# abdication

noun (an abdication, abdications)

«abdication» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Abdication is when a king, queen or other ruler gives up the throne of their own free will. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abdication/#m1)
2. (formal) Abdication of a duty or responsibility means failing to do what you should do, as if giving it up. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abdication/#m2)

### In the lessons

In history lessons, the famous abdication in Britain is that of King Edward VIII in 1936, who gave up the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee; his brother became George VI. Other monarchs have abdicated too, like Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (2013). In formal speech, «an abdication of responsibility» is a strong criticism. Phrases: «the abdication crisis», «abdication of responsibility».

### Examples

- The abdication of Edward VIII shocked Britain in 1936. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abdication/#x1)
- After the king's abdication, his brother was crowned. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abdication/#x2)
- The queen announced her abdication on television. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abdication/#x3)
- Leaving the little ones alone was an abdication of responsibility. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abdication/#x4)
- The history book has a whole chapter on the abdication crisis. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abdication/#x5)
- Her abdication let her son become king. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abdication/#x6)
- After the voluntary abdication of Oedipus, his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, took possession of the crown and reigned over the city of Thebes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abdication/#x7)

### Note

Countable. Verb: abdicate (abdicated, abdicating). Say «ab-di-KAY-shun». A ruler who is forced off the throne is «deposed» or «overthrown»; abdication means they give it up themselves (though sometimes under pressure).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «abdication» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abdication/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«abdication» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/abdication.html) on Mova free.