dissolution

noun

dis·​so·​lu·​tion ˌdi-sə-ˈlü-shən 

1

: the act or process of dissolving: such as

a

: separation into component parts

b(1)

: decay, disintegration

(2)

: death

grew convinced of his friend's approaching dissolution

—Elinor Wylie

c

: termination or destruction by breaking down, disrupting, or dispersing

the dissolution of the republic

their marriage's dissolution

d

: the dissolving of an assembly or organization

the dissolution of the legislature

e

chemistry : liquefaction

the dissolution of ice

2

: a dissolute or indulgent act or practice

Did you know?

Dissolution is the noun form of dissolve, but it's a much less common word. Still, we refer to the fact that the dissolution of American marriages became far more common in the later 20th century. Or that when India won its independence in 1947, the dissolution of the once-global British empire was all but complete. Or that factors such as crime and drugs might be contributing to the dissolution of contemporary society's moral fabric. A dissolute person is someone in whom all restraint has dissolved, and who now indulges in behavior that shocks decent people.

Synonyms

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

Examples of dissolution in a Sentence

the dissolution of the marriage

the dissolution of old beliefs

The treatment is used for the dissolution of kidney stones.

Recent Examples on the Web

Formed in 1992 following Jane’s Addiction’s dissolution, Porno for Pyros consists of Farrell, guitarist Peter DiStefano, bassist Martyn LeNoble, and drummer Stephen Perkins. —Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 22 Nov. 2023

Some Jewish groups describe it as an antisemitic call for the dissolution of Israel, though many protesters view it as a plea for Palestinians to be given equal rights. —Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2023

For example: Today’s Russia was born out of the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991; its current constitution is only 20 years old. —Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2023

The dissolution of the partnership with LendLease doesn’t mean this project is dead in the long term. —Bychris Morris, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2023

In 1992, after the official dissolution of the Soviet Union and the reversion of the name Leningrad to St. Petersburg, the orchestra again became known as the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. —Tim Page, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2023

When Claudia De La Cruz, who is running for president with a fringe anticapitalist party, demands the dissolution of NATO, West claps. —TIME, 16 Oct. 2023

This encompassed filing dissolution paperwork, notifying the IRS, and addressing state-specific obligations. —Sheila Dedenbach, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2023

Older agitations loom at a distance: the dissolution of a gay relationship in Tunde’s twenties, his precipitous departure from Lagos at seventeen. —Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

see dissolute

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

dissolution

noun

dis·​so·​lu·​tion ˌdis-ə-ˈlü-shən 

1

: the action or process of dissolving

2

: the ending or breaking up of an assembly or a partnership or corporation

Medical Definition

dissolution

noun

dis·​so·​lu·​tion ˌdis-ə-ˈlü-shən 

: the act or process of dissolving: as

a

: separation into component parts

b

: death sense 1

grew convinced of his friend's approaching dissolution

—Elinor Wylie

c

: liquefaction

d

: solution sense 1a

Legal Definition

dissolution

noun

dis·​so·​lu·​tion ˌdi-sə-ˈlü-shən 

: the act or process of ending: as

a

: the termination of an organized body (as a court)

b

: the ending of a partnership relationship caused by the withdrawal of one of the partners from the relationship

c

: the termination of a corporation

— involuntary dissolution

: dissolution of a corporation by a court in response to a shareholder petition based on statutorily prescribed grounds

— voluntary dissolution

: dissolution of a corporation upon the initiative of the directors and with approval of a certain percentage of the shareholders

d

: the termination of an injunction or stay by court order

e

: the termination of a marriage by divorce