dilapidated

adjective

di·​lap·​i·​dat·​ed də-ˈla-pə-ˌdā-təd How to pronounce dilapidated (audio)
: decayed, deteriorated, or fallen into partial ruin especially through neglect or misuse
a dilapidated old house

Did you know?

Something that is dilapidated may not have been literally pummeled with stones, but it might look that way. Dilapidated derives (via the English verb dilapidate) from dilapidatus, the past participle of the Latin verb dilapidare ("to squander or destroy"). That verb was formed by combining dis-, meaning "apart," with the verb lapidare, meaning "to pelt with stones." Other English descendants of lapidare include the verb lapidate ("to pelt or kill with stones") and the noun lapidary, which is used to refer to a person who cuts or polishes precious stones. Both words share as a root the Latin noun lapis, meaning "stone." We also find lapis in the name lapis lazuli, a bright blue semiprecious stone.

Examples of dilapidated in a Sentence

a dilapidated car that had seen better days
Recent Examples on the Web More than four-dozen people now live there, some in new-looking Bullet trailers provided by the city, and others in cars, tents and more dilapidated trailers and RVs. Calmatters, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 Last month, Browning’s friend Drew Cook showed him a photo of the dilapidated restaurant surrounded by fencing and adorned with signage promising that a Sheetz gas station was coming soon. Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 In recent decades, the reservation has contended with a litany of social ills tied to deep poverty, including alcoholism and substance abuse, overcrowded, dilapidated housing and youth suicide. Patricia Leigh Brown, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2024 Really, the only way to tell that this dilapidated structure – Building 4442, one of row upon row of such squat, khaki, standard-issue sandstone units at the heart of Fort Ord – once served as a proud and invaluable purpose are the murals that remain. Sam McManis, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 Johnson's administration says the dilapidated buildings are a public health and safety hazard. Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 25 Jan. 2024 There was a steamy and erotic workout space, an apartment with Catholic imagery where couples fought or embraced, and a dilapidated church where everyone danced. José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 12 Feb. 2024 In a dilapidated farm shed in New York’s rural North Country, the belongings of a migrant family who quietly took shelter one night were still visible months later: some clothing and children’s shoes, stiffened by the cold and a thin blanket of snow. Luis Ferré-Sadurní, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2024 Enlarge / Google is looking pretty dilapidated these days. Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 18 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dilapidated.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see dilapidate

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dilapidated was in 1565

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Dictionary Entries Near dilapidated

Cite this Entry

“Dilapidated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dilapidated. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dilapidated

adjective
di·​lap·​i·​dat·​ed
də-ˈlap-ə-ˌdāt-əd
: partly ruined or decayed especially from age or lack of care
a dilapidated old house

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