surrender

Surrender is the act of relinquishing possession, control, or claim to something to another party. It can be voluntary or coerced, and may occur as part of a negotiated agreement or a response to force. In everyday language, surrender can mean conceding a point, yielding authority, or giving up ownership or rights to property or territory. The term often conveys a permanent transfer of control or responsibility rather than a temporary pause.

In military contexts, surrender denotes the formal capitulation of a combatant force to an opponent. It usually follows negotiations or a strategic decision to stop fighting and is accompanied by the handing over of weapons, identification of prisoners, and a ceasefire. Surrender terms may be unconditional or conditional, addressing the treatment of personnel, the disposition of assets, and post-conflict obligations. International humanitarian law governs the conduct of those who surrender and their treatment as prisoners of war or protected persons.

In civil law and property transactions, surrender describes the voluntary relinquishment of rights, title, or interest. Examples include surrendering a lease, surrendering a license, or transferring ownership. Such actions typically require documentation and may be subject to consent, notice, or statutory requirements to be effective.

Origin of the word traces to Old French surrendre, derived from sur- “over” plus rendre “to give back,” reflecting the act of handing something over.