property
reliction
Reliction, also called dereliction, is the gradual increase in land that occurs when a body of water permanently recedes, exposing land that was once underwater. The newly exposed land generally becomes the property of the adjoining owner whose land borders the water. It is one of the natural ways an owner can gain land through accession, along with accretion.
- Exam tip
- Do not confuse reliction (water recedes, land is exposed) with accretion (soil is deposited by water) or avulsion (sudden loss of land from a flood or storm).
- Example
- A lake slowly drops over many years, exposing 20 more feet of shoreline behind a cottage. That new strip typically belongs to the cottage owner.
Related terms & state variants
Sources
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Last verified: 2026-10-23