Dilapidated
/dɪˈlæpɪˌdeɪtɪd/
Definitions
Decayed or fallen into partial ruin or decay, often through neglect or age.
/dɪˈlæpɪˌdeɪtɪd/
In a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect.
The old, dilapidated barn sagged precariously.
💡 Simply: Think of a house that's been left alone for a long time, with broken windows, peeling paint, and maybe even parts of the roof missing. That house is dilapidated! It's a bit like a toy that's been played with so much it's falling apart.
👶 For kids: When something is old and falling apart, like a playhouse that hasn't been taken care of.
More Examples
The dilapidated house had been vacant for years.
They lived in a dilapidated apartment building.
How It's Used
"The dilapidated mansion stood as a stark reminder of its former glory."
"The city is working to revitalize the dilapidated buildings in the downtown area."
From Latin *dilapidatus*, past participle of *dilapidare* 'to squander, ruin', from *dis-* 'apart, away' + *lapidare* 'to throw stones at, to stone', from *lapis* 'stone'. The sense developed from the idea of using stones to build, and thus demolishing a structure stone by stone.
The word 'dilapidated' has been used in English since the 17th century to describe buildings and other structures in a state of disrepair. It was often used in legal and financial contexts to describe property that required repairs.
Memory tip
Imagine a plate that's been dropped, the pieces are all dis-placed, and the whole thing is late (dilapidated) to being a plate again.