# abandonee

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abandonee
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

a person who has been left behind or deserted by someone else. You might see this word in legal papers or stories about people who were left without help.

For teachers: a person who has been abandoned, particularly in a legal or formal context. Formed by the suffix '-ee' to denote the recipient of the action of the verb 'abandon'.

## Examples

- The young abandonee needed a new home and a family.
- Legal protections for the abandonee ensure that the person left behind receives necessary financial support from the estate.
- The social worker focused on the psychological recovery of the abandonee, noting that the trauma of desertion often requires long-term therapeutic intervention to rebuild a sense of security.

## Usage notes

- The noun is primarily used in legal or formal sociological contexts to describe the person who is the victim of abandonment.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.