dilapidated
Say it: dih-LAP-ih-day-tid /dɪˈlæpɪdeɪtɪd/ · adjective
What “dilapidated” means
Old and falling apart after years without care.
More precisely: Old and falling apart through neglect or age.
When to use it
For buildings or objects that have become shabby and damaged through age or neglect. Common in property descriptions and everyday talk.
Memory trick
Latin lapis means stone: picture loose stones falling from a neglected building.
Similar words
rundown, decrepit, ramshackle
Where it comes from
From Latin dilapidare, "to demolish, squander," literally to scatter stones; lapis means "stone."
Quick check
An abandoned cottage has rotten window frames, missing roof tiles and walls crumbling after years of neglect. It is…
dilapidated or demolished?
Show the answer
dilapidated
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