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abdicator

ab·di·ca·tor
  1. 1 one who renounces power (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Formal

    a person who officially gives up a powerful position, such as a throne.

    one who formally renounces a high office, sovereign power, or a throne.

    Example

    The king became an abdicator after deciding he could no longer lead his country.

    Example

    History remembers him as a reluctant abdicator, forced to surrender his crown during the political upheaval of the mid-century revolution.

    Usage

    The noun is countable and typically refers to political or royal contexts.

    Teacher's tip

    This word is rare in modern speech; 'abdication' is much more common than the person-noun 'abdicator'.

  2. 2 one who fails in duty (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Formal

    someone who stops doing their job or responsibility when they should continue.

    one who fails to fulfill a duty or responsibility.

    Example

    Critics called the manager an abdicator for leaving the team during the crisis.

    Example

    The board viewed the CEO as an abdicator of his fiduciary duties following the collapse of the merger.

    Usage

    Often used with 'of' to specify the responsibility being abandoned.

    Teacher's tip

    Use this sense to describe a moral or professional failure rather than a legal resignation.

Origin

From abdicate + -or.

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