demarcate

verb

de·​mar·​cate di-ˈmär-ˌkāt How to pronounce demarcate (audio) ˈdē-ˌmär- How to pronounce demarcate (audio)
demarcated; demarcating

transitive verb

1
: delimit
a plot of land demarcated by a low stone wall
2
: to set apart : distinguish
demarcate teachers as mentor, master and model teachers based on their level of educationShanay Cadette

Did you know?

It’s reasonable to assume that demarcate inspired the noun demarcation—many a noun has been formed by adding the suffix -ion to an existing verb. But in this case you'd also be wrong; demarcation came first, with the verb demarcate following as a back-formation. We can ultimately thank Spanish for both: the Spanish noun demarcación (from demarcar, "to delimit") was used in 1493 to name a meridian dividing New World territory between Spain and Portugal. (A Spanish-born pope chose a meridian that favored Spain greatly.) Centuries later, English speakers began calling this boundary the "line of demarcation," and eventually applied that phrase to other dividing lines as well. By the early 19th century, demarcation had been verbified to create demarcate.

Examples of demarcate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The dining area, separated from the living room and kitchen via a pair of funky pass-throughs, is demarcated by a radiant modern chandelier; the sleekly modern kitchen offers a breakfast bar, custom cabinetry and plenty of countertop space, plus up-to-date stainless appliances. James McClain, Robb Report, 22 Feb. 2024 Borders demarcate lines of sovereignty between states—and the Palestinians do not have a state. Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 The spiderweb of lanes demarcate grants by Lord Fairfax, whose family was given a vast tract of what is now Virginia by the British crown. Jayne Orenstein, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2024 Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah on Jan. 5 broached for the first time the possibility of finally demarcating the line between the two countries — a step that the United States, other Western governments and the United Nations have been advocating for years. Sarah Dadouch, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024 The story plays out in chapters — demarcated by changes in setting and Bella’s personal evolution — and the score progressively moves from very simple ideas to a more complex harmonic language. Tim Greiving, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2023 That could mean demarcating a space around a favorite ice patch or crater, and taking ownership over resources like water and minerals. WIRED, 8 Nov. 2023 Economists predict the index rose, but remained below the 50-mark that demarcates contraction from expansion. WSJ, 2 Oct. 2023 His decision demarcated in blood the moment Ukrainian identity slipped free from Russian history. Martin Kuz, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'demarcate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from demarcation, from Spanish demarcación, from demarcar to delimit, from de- + marcar to mark, probably from Italian marcare, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German marha boundary — more at mark

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of demarcate was in 1816

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Dictionary Entries Near demarcate

Cite this Entry

“Demarcate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demarcate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

demarcate

verb
de·​mar·​cate di-ˈmär-ˌkāt How to pronounce demarcate (audio) ˈdē-ˌmär- How to pronounce demarcate (audio)
demarcated; demarcating
1
: to mark the limits or boundaries of
2
: to set apart : distinguish sense 4
demarcation noun

Medical Definition

demarcate

transitive verb
de·​mar·​cate di-ˈmär-ˌkāt How to pronounce demarcate (audio) ˈdē-ˌ How to pronounce demarcate (audio)
demarcated; demarcating
1
: to mark or determine the limits of
2
: to set apart clearly or distinctly as if by definite limits or boundaries
demarcation noun
also demarkation

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