divorce

1 of 3

noun (1)

di·​vorce də-ˈvȯrs 

 also  dī-

1

law : the action or an instance of legally dissolving (see dissolve entry 1 sense 1d) a marriage

2

: separation, severance

divorce of the secular and the spiritual

divorce

2 of 3

verb

divorced; divorcing

transitive verb

1

law

a

: to legally dissolve one's marriage with : to end marriage with (one's spouse) by divorce (see divorce entry 1 sense 1)

She divorced her husband.

b

: to dissolve the marriage contract between

They were divorced last year.

They are getting divorced.

2

: to make or keep separate : separate

divorce church from state

media narratives divorced from reality

intransitive verb

law : to obtain a divorce

They divorced two years later.

divorcement

də-ˈvȯr-smənt 

noun

divorcé

3 of 3

noun (2)

di·​vor·​cé də-ˌvȯr-ˈsā  -ˈsē 

-ˈvȯr-ˌsā

: a divorced man

Synonyms

Verb

• break up
• decouple
• disassociate
• disconnect
• disjoin
• disjoint
• dissever
• dissociate
• disunite
• divide
• part
• ramify
• resolve
• separate
• sever
• split
• sunder
• uncouple
• unlink
• unyoke

Choose the Right Synonym for divorce

separate, part, divide, sever, sunder, divorce mean to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed.

separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing.

separated her personal life from her career

part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association.

vowed never to part

divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking.

civil war divided the nation

sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member.

a severed limb

sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart.

a city sundered by racial conflict

divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together.

cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility

Examples of divorce in a Sentence

Noun (1)

Since getting a divorce, she has been raising her children alone.

They went through a lengthy divorce.

Their marriage ended in divorce.

Financial problems are a leading cause of divorce.

Verb

After years of unhappiness, she decided to divorce him.

They both agreed it was best to divorce.

Their constitution divorces church and state.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The former New England Patriots coach began dating the television presenter in 2007, one year after his divorce from ex-wife Debby Clarke. —Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 21 May 2025

Court records offer a window into the family discord that marked the suspect’s youth, including his parents’ messy divorce and allegations of verbal and emotional abuse. —Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2025

Verb

Conflicts of interest can include situations like the reviewer having been the student of an applicant, the applicant and reviewer being divorced, or the proposal coming from the reviewer’s current institution. —Kelly S. Mix, The Conversation, 22 May 2025

His wife of over 30 years, Meg Coyle, had divorced him the previous year after a decade-long separation. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 22 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb

Middle English divorse, from Anglo-French, from Latin divortium, from divertere, divortere to divert, to leave one's husband

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1877, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing divorce

• sue for divorce

Rhymes for divorce

• concourse
• endorse
• enforce
• indorse
• midcourse
• outsource
• perforce
• racecourse
• racehorse
• remorse
• seahorse
• workforce

Kids Definition

divorce

1 of 3 noun

di·​vorce də-ˈvōrs 

-ˈvȯrs

1

: the action or an instance of legally ending a marriage

2

: complete separation

divorce

2 of 3 verb

divorced; divorcing

1

a

: to end marriage with one's spouse by divorce

b

: to cancel the marriage contract between two spouses

2

: to make or keep separate : separate, disunite

divorcement

-mənt 

noun

divorcé

3 of 3 noun

di·​vor·​cé də-ˌvōr-ˈsā  -ˌvȯr- 

-ˈsē

: a divorced man

Legal Definition

divorce

1 of 2 noun

di·​vorce

: the dissolution of a valid marriage granted especially on specified statutory grounds (as adultery) arising after the marriage compare annulment

Note: The most common grounds for divorce are absence from the marital home, drug or alcohol addiction, adultery, cruelty, conviction of a crime, desertion, insanity, and nonsupport.

— absolute divorce

: a divorce that completely and permanently dissolves the marital relationship and terminates marital rights (as property rights) and obligations (as fidelity)

— divorce a mensa et thoro \ -​ˌā-​ˈmen-​sə-​ˌet-​ˈthȯr-​ō, -​ˌä-​ˈmen-​sä-​ˌet-​ˈthō-​rō \

: a separation governed by a court order : legal separation

— divorce a vinculo matrimonii \ -​ˌā-​ˈviŋ-​kyu̇-​ˌlō-​ˌma-​trə-​ˈmō-​nē-​ˌī, -​ˌä-​ˈviŋ-​kü-​ˌlō-​ˌmä-​trē-​ˈmō-​nē-​ˌē \

: absolute divorce in this entry

— limited divorce

: an intentional cessation of cohabitation between spouses : separation

— no-fault divorce

: an absolute divorce that is not based on either spouse's fault and that is granted usually on the grounds of an irretrievable breakdown or when the spouses have lived apart for a statutorily specified period of time

divorce

2 of 2 verb

divorced; divorcing

transitive verb

1

: to dissolve the marriage of (a spouse) by judgment or decree of divorce

2

: to sever the marital relationship with (a spouse) by means of a judgment or decree of divorce

intransitive verb

: to obtain a divorce

Etymology

Noun

Middle French, from Latin divortium, from divortere, divertere to leave one's marriage partner, from di- away, apart + vertere to turn