dereliction of duty
dereliction of duty — noun
1. a serious failure to do the work or responsibility that your role requires
a serious failure to do the work or responsibility that your role requires
After the flood, many parents called the agency's silence a dereliction of duty.
call something a dereliction of duty
The hospital board ruled that ignoring repeated warnings was a dereliction of duty.
be a dereliction of duty after neglecting warnings
When the guards left the gate unlocked, the mayor called it dereliction of duty.
Rina said the principal's inaction during the bullying case was dereliction of duty.
To many voters, the minister's absence during the crisis looked like dereliction of duty.
- negligence
more legal and often wider in scope than this fixed phrase
- neglect
less formal and often used for ongoing carelessness
- breach of duty
formal and often used when a clear obligation has been broken
- diligence
emphasises careful and responsible attention to work
- faithful service
focuses on carrying out one's responsibilities properly over time
文法句型
be a dereliction of duty
call something a dereliction of duty
see something as dereliction of duty
用法筆記
Common in journalism, politics, and workplace criticism. It judges a person's neglected responsibility, not the bad event itself.
常見錯誤
2. the military crime of not carrying out an assigned responsibility, especially in
the military crime of not carrying out an assigned responsibility, especially in a serious case
The captain was charged with dereliction of duty after skipping the night watch.
be charged with dereliction of duty
Military judges found Omar guilty of dereliction of duty during the border patrol.
find someone guilty of dereliction of duty
The report said the pilot's refusal to check the fuel was dereliction of duty.
After the missed alarm, the sergeant faced dereliction of duty charges.
Under military law, abandoning the post could count as dereliction of duty.
- misconduct
broader and can cover many kinds of improper military behaviour
- breach of duty
formal and not limited to the armed forces
- negligence
can overlap legally, but this phrase specifically names the offence in military duty
- proper conduct
general opposite idea of acting as required
文法句型
be charged with dereliction of duty
be guilty of dereliction of duty
dereliction of duty charges
用法筆記
Used mainly in military law or discipline. Distinguish from sense 1 (JOB FAILURE): this sense names a specific offence rather than a general criticism of someone's work.