dissociation

noun

dis·​so·​ci·​a·​tion (ˌ)di-ˌsō-sē-ˈā-shən 

-shē-

plural dissociations

1

: the act or process of dissociating : the state of being dissociated: such as

a

: the process by which a chemical combination breaks up into simpler constituents

especially : one that results from the action of energy (such as heat) on a gas or of a solvent on a dissolved substance

b

: the separation of whole segments of the personality (as in dissociative identity disorder) or of discrete mental processes (as in schizophrenia) from the mainstream of consciousness or of behavior

2

: the property inherent in some biological stocks (as of certain bacteria) of differentiating into two or more distinct and relatively permanent strains

also : such a strain

dissociative

(ˌ)di-ˈsō-shē-ˌā-tiv 

-sē-

-shə-tiv

adjective

Examples of dissociation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sometimes celebrity worshippers have narcissistic features, dissociation, addictive tendencies, stalking behavior and compulsive buying. —Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025

Sometimes my evenings, too, are an exercise in box-checking, dissociation, and faux self-care, my body piloted by a brain that has never quite switched off work mode. —Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2025

Jackson builds the suspense through incredibly vivid imagery and explorations of themes such as family, isolation, freedom, and dissociation. —Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 8 Aug. 2025

These people are identified as having cognitive motor dissociation, a type of covert consciousness. —Mariana Lenharo & Nature Magazine, Scientific American, 6 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dissociation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

dissociation

noun

dis·​so·​ci·​a·​tion (ˌ)dis-ˌō-sē-ˈā-shən 

-shē-

: the act or process of dissociating : the state of being dissociated

especially : the process by which a chemical combination breaks up into simpler substances of which it is made

Medical Definition

dissociation

noun

dis·​so·​ci·​a·​tion (ˌ)dis-ˌō-sē-ˈā-shən  -shē- 

1

: the act or process of dissociating : the state of being dissociated: as

a

: the process by which a chemical combination breaks up into simpler constituents

especially : one that results from the action of energy (as heat) on a gas or of a solvent on a dissolved substance

b

: the separation of whole segments of the personality (as in dissociative identity disorder) or of discrete mental processes (as in schizophrenia) from the mainstream of consciousness or of behavior with loss of integrated awareness and autonomous functioning of the separated segments or parts

2

: the process by which some biological stocks (as of certain bacteria) differentiate into two or more distinct and relatively permanent strains

also : such a strain