What does abdication mean?
Word: Abdication
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Abdication means the act of formally giving up a throne, a high position or a duty, usually by a king or queen.
Synonyms: renunciation
Word origin: Comes from Latin abdicare, to disown or give up formally.
How do you spell abdication?
Syllables: ab - di - ca - tion
Tricky part: The vowel after the d is i, not e: say ab-di-CAY-shun and the di comes through clearly.
Watch out for: abdecation, abdikation, abdiction
Memory tip: Hold on to the d-i-c in the middle: abdication shares it with indication and dedication.
Abdication in a sentence
Example 1: The old queen's abdication was announced on the radio early in the morning.
Example 2: The captain's sudden abdication of his duties left the team without a leader.
Example 3: In the story, the prince refused the crown even after his father's abdication.
Fun Fact
In December 1936 King Edward VIII of Britain gave up his throne so that he could marry Wallis Simpson. He had been king for less than a year.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) abdicasion
b) collision
c) attention
d) procession
Show answer
a) abdicasion. Abdication ends in tion, like attention; procession and collision really do take sion.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word:
abdication
a) accession
b) coronation
c) resignation
d) succession
Show answer
c) resignation. A coronation or an accession puts someone on the throne; abdication is the opposite move, stepping down.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
nicoatbaid
a) abdication
b) indication
c) dedication
d) abduction
Show answer
a) abdication. Abduction has a u and no second a or i, and the other two lack a b.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. After a king's abdication, the crown usually passes to ____.
a) the prime minister
b) the army chief
c) the chief judge
d) the next heir
Show answer
d) the next heir
2. Which sentence describes an abdication?
a) A king opens a new bridge in his city.
b) A princess marries a prince from abroad.
c) A prince is crowned in a grand ceremony.
d) A queen hands over her crown and steps down.
Show answer
d) A queen hands over her crown and steps down.
