Dereliction Definition: The enlarging of land adjacent to water by the gradual retreat of the water line. Related Terms: Avulsion, Alluvion Similar to alluvion except that dereliction is not the land gained by the gradual deposit of land by the force of water; rather, deriliction is the exposure of land caused by the gradual retreat of a water line. It is sometimes referred to as the opposite of alluvion. In civil law, dereliction refers to goods permenantly abandoned by an owner; thus, similar to the term derelict of maritime law. REFERENCES: Duhaime, Lloyd, Legal Definition of Alluvion Categories & Topics: Civil Law Dictionary Maritime & Waterways Law Dictionary Find you are constantly looking up definitions? Try our search provider (works in most modern browsers) If you find an error or omission in Duhaime's Legal Dictionary, or if you have legal term suggestion, we'd love to hear from you!