Dereliction Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Dereliction.

Dereliction (noun):

1. The act of neglecting or failing to fulfill one's responsibilities or duties, often referring to a deliberate or conscious neglect. For example, a police officer falling asleep on the job could be accused of dereliction of duty.
2. In the context of property law, it refers to the addition of land due to natural processes like receding water levels (often a result of tides). For instance, if the tide lowers and reveals previously submerged land next to a person's property, that new land may now be considered part of their property due to dereliction.