demarcation

noun

de·​mar·​ca·​tion ˌdē-ˌmär-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce demarcation (audio)
plural demarcations
1
: the marking of the limits or boundaries of something : the act, process, or result of demarcating something
the demarcation of property lines
2
: something that marks or constitutes a boundary
a demarcation line
: a marked or perceived distinction between one area, category, etc., and another
The ability to test a theory against physical evidence … has provided a useful demarcation between science and pseudoscience.Norriss S. Hetherington
Certainly no clear line of demarcation has as yet been drawn between species and sub-species—that is, the forms which in the opinion of some naturalists come very near to, but do not quite arrive at the rank of species.Charles Darwin
There has been much chatter in recent seasons about the great gender crossover, that deliberate erosion on the runways of a once-rigid demarcation between conventionally feminine and masculine clothes.Elizabeth Paton
… the continued presence in the modern imagination of a sharp demarcation between public and private space.AAG Abstracts

Examples of demarcation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But in the absence of a diplomatic solution to the remaining issues relating to border demarcation and the corridor, a new war could carve up Armenia. Olesya Vartanyan, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2023 In the modern day, a multitude of theories abound as to why this line of demarcation fizzled. Hampton Bourne, Field & Stream, 22 Nov. 2023 When Robb Report created its Car of the Year contest 21 years ago, categories such as Sports Car, Convertible, GT, and Sedan were clear demarcations of a vehicle’s purpose and capability. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 13 Feb. 2024 After Israel’s full withdrawal from the country in 2000, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, spread out along the Blue Line, a temporary border demarcation. John Hudson, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2024 For over two years, the two countries have tried to discuss the demarcation of their joint border, both bilaterally and with the participation of Western officials. Olesya Vartanyan, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2023 Over those 72 hours, 73 PLA aircraft either crossed the strait’s median line – an informal demarcation point that Beijing does not recognize but until recently largely respected – or entered the southeastern or southwestern parts of the island’s ADIZ. Brad Lendon, CNN, 14 July 2023 Dangling the possibility of border demarcation was also a hopeful message aimed at a beleaguered Lebanese public, Saad said, fearful of war and mired in a years-long economic crisis. Sarah Dadouch, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2024 The near-term goal is to develop a process to start negotiating a land demarcation agreement that could delineate where and how the two sides deploy forces along the border in an effort to stabilize the situation. Shane Harris, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of demarcation was in 1728

Dictionary Entries Near demarcation

Cite this Entry

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

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