ab ‧ di ‧ cate /ˈæbdɪkeɪt/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of abdicare , from ab- 'away, off' + dicare 'to say publicly' ]
1 . to give up the position of being king or queen:
King Alfonso XIII abdicated in favour of his eldest son.
The king was forced to abdicate the throne.
2 . abdicate (your) responsibility formal to refuse to be responsible for something, when you should be or were before:
The government has largely abdicated its responsibility in dealing with housing needs.
—abdication /ˌæbdəˈkeɪʃ ə n, ˌæbdɪˈkeɪʃ ə n/ noun [uncountable and countable]