desertion
n.the act of leaving a group or organization, especially an army, without permission. It is a serious crime in the military.
n.the act of leaving a military unit or organization without authority or without intent to return. Often carries legal consequences, particularly within military law.
“The soldier faced a court-martial for desertion.”
“During the long winter campaign, several soldiers were punished for desertion after they left their posts to find shelter.”
“The general's memoirs detail the psychological toll of desertion on the remaining troops, noting how the loss of a few men significantly eroded the unit's morale.”
“Guinea's President Mamadi Doumbouya, 41, has dismissed more than 170 soldiers for "desertion", including a colonel who helped him seize power in a coup in 2021.”
Borrowed from Middle French désertion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.