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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Above that symbolic demarcation line known as the Bobby Hopper Tunnel, the I-49 gateway to Northwest Arkansas Proper, open spaces--like swing votes--are diminishing. Arkansas Online, 17 Nov. 2022 However, diplomatic efforts to formalize a long-term resolution to the problem, including a formal demarcation of borders, have been unsuccessful. David Faris, The Week, 15 Sep. 2022 There should be no demarcation of units by income and all residents should share the full range of amenities. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2022 Sparkling wine, says Lee Pancake, predates the demarcation of Champagne as a region in France, as does the method by which the famed bubbly — bougiest of all sparkling wines — is produced. Amy Drew Thompson, orlandosentinel.com, 29 Dec. 2021 Major League Baseball is heavily promoting inoculations, and stadiums have become a new line of demarcation, where vaccinated sections are highlighted as perks akin to VIP skyboxes. BostonGlobe.com, 14 May 2021 That was kind of a line of demarcation where society changed completely. Greta Rainbow, Vulture, 7 May 2021 Seven of the eight playoff teams in the West have at least 100 points, kind of the line of demarcation for a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas News, 16 Apr. 2023 Brazil’s President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced Thursday that Sônia Guajajara will head up a new Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, with a mandate to oversee policies ranging from land demarcation to health care. Fabiano Maisonnave, ajc, 30 Dec. 2022 See More

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 8 Jun. 2023.

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