What is "derogation"

Derogation \Der`o*ga"tion\, n. [L. derogatio: cf. F. d['e]rogation.]

1. The act of derogating, partly repealing, or lessening in value; disparagement; detraction; depreciation; -- followed by of, from, or to.

   I hope it is no derogation to the Christian religion.
   --Locke.

   He counted it no derogation of his manhood to be seen to weep.
   --F. W. Robertson.

2. (Stock Exch.) An alteration of, or subtraction from, a contract for a sale of stocks.

mid-15c., from Old French dérogacion (14c.), from Latin derogationem (nominative derogatio), noun of action from past participle stem of derogare (see derogatory).

n. 1 An act which belittles; disparagement. 2 (context legal English) The act of derogating; the temporary or partial nullification of a law.

1. n. a communication that belittles somebody or something [syn: disparagement, depreciation]

2. (law) the partial taking away of the effectiveness of a law; a partial repeal or abolition of a law; "any derogation of the common law is to be strictly construed"

Derogation is the partial suppression of a law, as opposed to abrogation—total abolition of a law by explicit repeal—and obrogation—the partial or total modification or repeal of a law by the imposition of a later and contrary one. The term is used in canon law, civil law, and common law. It is sometimes used, loosely, to mean abrogation, as in the legal maxim: Lex posterior derogat priori, i.e. a subsequent law imparts the abolition of a previous one.

In terms of European Union legislation, a derogation can also imply that a member state delays the implementation of an element of an EU Regulation (etc.) into their legal system over a given timescale, such as five years; or that a member state has opted not to enforce a specific provision in a treaty due to internal circumstances (typically a state of emergency).