# abdicate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈæb.dɪˌkeɪt/ · frequency rank #43,491

## Definitions
1. To disclaim and expel from the family, as a father his child; to disown; to disinherit.
2. To formally separate oneself from or to divest oneself of.
3. To depose.
4. To reject; to cast off; to discard.
5. To surrender, renounce or relinquish, as sovereign power; to withdraw definitely from filling or exercising, as a high office, station, dignity; to fail to fulfill responsibility for.
6. To relinquish or renounce a throne, or other high office or dignity; to renounce sovereignty.

## Etymology
First attested in 1532; borrowed from Latin abdicātus (“renounced”), perfect passive participle of abdicō (“to renounce, reject, disclaim”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), formed from ab (“away”) + dicō (“proclaim, dedicate, declare”), akin to dīcō (“to say”). Compare Middle English abdicat (“forsaken, renounced”).

## Easily confused with
- **abdicated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abdicate-vs-abdicated)

## Common misspellings (11)
`abbdicate`, `abdciate`, `abddicate`, `abdiacte`, `abdicaet`, `abdicatte`, `abdiccate`, `abdictae`, `abidcate`, `adbicate`, `badicate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/abdicate