secede

verb

se·​cede si-ˈsēd How to pronounce secede (audio)
seceded; seceding

intransitive verb

: to withdraw from an organization (such as a religious communion or political party or federation)
seceder noun

Examples of secede in a Sentence

South Carolina seceded from the Union in 1860.
Recent Examples on the Web Mehrtens’ captors initially threatened to kill him unless New Zealand agreed to pressure Indonesia into allowing West Papua to secede from Indonesia, a seemingly impossible demand. Angus Watson, CNN, 6 Feb. 2024 By the time Lincoln took the oath of office on March 4, 1865, southern states had seceded from the country. Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2024 The Texas Supreme Court rejected a recent petition from the Texas Nationalist Movement to place a petition on the state’s March primary that would allow voters to decide whether the state should secede from the United States. Misty Severi, Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2024 The first trailer suggests that 19 states have seceded from the Union, and that Nick Offerman is president. Ew Staff, EW.com, 5 Jan. 2024 Confederate was envisioned as an alternative-timeline drama in which the South has successfully seceded from the Union, slavery is still legal, and a new Civil War looms. James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2024 For someone talking so openly about seceding from the country, Abbott also is putting in place component parts of his profile to lead it. TIME, 1 Feb. 2024 Her own state’s history Her state of South Carolina was the first to secede after Abraham Lincoln was elected president. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2024 In one moment, a news reporter announces over the radio that 19 states have seceded. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 13 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'secede.' 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

Latin secedere, from sed-, se- apart (from sed, se without) + cedere to go — more at suicide

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of secede was in 1749

Dictionary Entries Near secede

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

secede

verb
se·​cede si-ˈsēd How to pronounce secede (audio)
seceded; seceding
: to withdraw from an organization (as a nation, church, or political party)

More from Merriam-Webster on secede

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