dissociate

verb

dis·​so·​ci·​ate (ˌ)di-ˈsō-shē-ˌāt 

-sē-

dissociated; dissociating

transitive verb

1

: to separate from association or union with another

attempts to dissociate herself from her past

2

: disunite

specifically : to subject to chemical dissociation

intransitive verb

1

: to undergo dissociation

2

: to mutate especially reversibly

Did you know?

Dissociate and its synonym disassociate can both mean "to separate from association or union with another." Associate is from Latin ad-, meaning "to," and sociare, meaning "to join." Dis- in this case means "do the opposite of," so both dissociate and disassociate indicate severing that which is united. Some commentators, however, argue that disassociate is illogical because it indicates separating and uniting simultaneously. Dissociate is slightly older, appearing in the late 16th century, whereas early evidence of disassociate is found in the beginning decade of the next century. Dissociate is recommended by a number of commentators on the basis that it is shorter, which it is by a grand total of two letters—not the firmest ground for an endorsement. Both words are in current good use, but disassociate is used more often in the U.S.

Synonyms

• divide
• separate
• split
• disconnect
• disassociate
• sever

Examples of dissociate in a Sentence

The director has tried to dissociate himself from his earlier films.

Why is the organization choosing to dissociate itself from its founder?

Recent Examples on the Web

Our book, The Price of Our Values: The Economic Limits of Moral Life argues that our moral decisions cannot be dissociated from economic considerations. —Hec Paris Insights, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

The servings come from the ether, a bottomless well of mushy, purposeless, dissociated slop. —Emma Goldberg, New York Times, 19 May 2025

These behaviors have become dissociated from the gonads. —Donna L. Maney, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2025

The Ratliff family is on the brink of financial ruin as Jason Isaacs’ patriarch Timothy holds out from telling his wife or children and instead gulps down Victoria’s (Parker Posey) lorazepam to dissociate from reality. —Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin dissociatus, past participle of dissociare, from dis- + sociare to join, from socius companion — more at social

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

dissociate

verb

dis·​so·​ci·​ate (ˈ)dis-ˈō-sē-ˌāt 

-shē-

dissociated; dissociating

1

: to separate from association or union with another

2

: divide entry 1 sense 1

Medical Definition

dissociate

verb

dis·​so·​ci·​ate (ˈ)dis-ˈō-s(h)ē-ˌāt 

dissociated; dissociating

transitive verb

: to subject to chemical dissociation

intransitive verb

1

: to undergo dissociation

2

: to mutate especially reversibly