A group on leave (7)

I believe the answer is:

abandon

'leave' is the definition.
(to abandon is to leave or desert)

'a group on' is the wordplay.
'group' becomes 'band' (band can mean a group of people).
'a'+'band'+'on'='ABANDON'

(Other definitions for abandon that I've seen before include "dump" , "Cast aside" , "Total lack of inhibition (often gay?)" , "Leave behind - licentiousness" , "Evacuate; desert" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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