desertion

/dɪˈzɜːrʃən/
noun
  1. The act of leaving someone or something that you have a duty to stay with, especially a spouse, child, or military post.
    • Desertion during wartime is considered a serious crime.
    • The desertion of her family caused a lot of pain.
    • He was arrested for desertion after leaving the army without permission.
  2. The act of abandoning a place, cause, or idea.
    • There was a sudden desertion of the project when funding ran out.
    • The desertion of the beach by tourists surprised the locals.
    • The desertion of the old factory left the town without jobs.
Antonyms
What does "desertion" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean