Word
abdicant
Phoneticsab·di·cant
Definitions
01one who gives up power
n. someone who officially gives up a powerful position, such as a king or queen.
n. a person who formally renounces a throne, office, or other position of supreme authority.
“The former king lived a quiet life as an abdicant after leaving the throne.”
“History remembers him not as a conqueror, but as a weary abdicant who preferred the peace of the countryside to the burdens of the crown.”
Archaic · Formal
Usage
The noun is often used in historical or legal contexts regarding the transfer of power.
Teaching tip
This word is extremely rare in modern English; students should use 'abdicator' or simply describe the person as 'the king who abdicated'.
Synonyms
02giving up power
adj. describing the act of giving up a high position or duty.
adj. characterised by the act of abdicating or renouncing a formal office or right.
“The abdicant queen signed the papers to end her long rule.”
“The council reviewed the abdicant decree, ensuring that all legal requirements for the transfer of sovereignty had been met.”
Archaic · Formal
Usage
Usually appears before the noun it modifies.
Teaching tip
In modern writing, the participle 'abdicating' is almost always preferred over this archaic adjective form.
Synonyms
Etymology
From abdicate + -ant.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/abdicant