separation

noun

sep·​a·​ra·​tion ˌse-pə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: the act or process of separating : the state of being separated

2

a

: a point, line, or means of division

b

: an intervening space : gap

the separation between wheel spokes

3

a

: cessation of cohabitation between a married couple by mutual agreement or judicial decree

b

: termination of a contractual relationship (such as employment or military service)

Synonyms

• bifurcation
• breakup
• cleavage
• dissolution
• disunion
• division
• fractionalization
• fractionation
• partition
• schism
• scission
• split
• sundering

Examples of separation in a Sentence

After a separation of 30 years, she visited her family in Cuba.

Moving away meant separation from his family.

Recent Examples on the Web

Starliner proceeded smoothly through SRB burnout and jettison, first-stage cutoff, separation, and then a burn of the Atlas V’s Centaur second stage to take it to the verge of orbit. —Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 5 June 2024

Brittany has moved from rental to rental since announcing the separation in February, and Jax has lied to the press about their living arrangements. —Megan McCluskey, TIME, 5 June 2024

In this photograph, two Black passengers sit at the rear of a New Orleans streetcar while four white passengers sit at the front; all look out from a row of windows, the mullions between them emphasizing their strict separation. —Lucy McKeon, New York Times, 3 June 2024

The couple announced their separation last July, and finalized their divorce in February. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 31 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing separation

• grade separation
• separation anxiety
• separation of church and state

Kids Definition

separation

noun

sep·​a·​ra·​tion ˌsep-ə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: the act or process of separating : the state of being separated

2

a

: a point or line of division

b

: a space that comes between things : gap

the separation between wheel spokes

3

a

: a formal separating of spouses by agreement but without divorce

b

: the ending of a relationship that is bound by a contract (as employment or military service)

Medical Definition

separation

noun

sep·​a·​ra·​tion ˌsep-ə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: the process of isolating or extracting from or of becoming isolated from a mixture

also : the resulting state

2

: dislocation see shoulder separation

Legal Definition

separation

noun

sep·​a·​ra·​tion ˌse-pə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: cessation of cohabitation between a married couple by mutual agreement with intent that it be permanent

also : legal separation compare divorce

Note: In some cases in which the estrangement is extreme, a separation is considered to have occurred even when the couple retain the same residence if they have stopped communicating and engaging in sexual relations and intend to be separated.

2

: termination of a contractual relationship (as employment or military service)