Definition
In a state of disrepair or decay; falling apart due to age or lack of maintenance. The term typically applies to structures like buildings or vehicles that are visibly crumbling.
Example Usage
The dilapidated farmhouse, with its crumbling brick and boarded windows, had been abandoned for decades.
Origin
From Latin dilapidatus, past participle of dilapidare, meaning 'to scatter like stones' (from dis- and lapis, stone).
Fun Fact
Originally the term meant to squander or waste (as if scattering stones), but it evolved to specifically describe physical deterioration.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
Related Terms
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See “Dilapidated” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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