divorce

noun (1)

di·vorce | \ də-ˈvȯrs

also dī- \

Essential Meaning of divorce

1 : the ending of a marriage by a legal process Since getting a divorce, she has been raising her children alone. They went through a lengthy/messy divorce. See More ExamplesTheir marriage ended in divorce. They are filing for divorce. [=they are filing a paper with the courts asking that their marriage be legally ended] Financial problems are a leading cause of divorce.Hide

2 formal : a complete separation between two things

Full Definition of divorce

(Entry 1 of 3)

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

verb

divorced; divorcing

Definition of divorce (Entry 2 of 3)

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.

divorcé

noun (2)

di·vor·cé | \ də-ˌvȯr-ˈsā

, -ˈsē

, -ˈvȯr-ˌsā \

Definition of divorcé (Entry 3 of 3)

: a divorced man

Other Words from divorce Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More About divorce

Choose the Right Synonym for divorce

Verb

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.

Learn More About divorce

Dictionary Entries Near divorce

divisural line

divorce

divorcé

Statistics for divorce

Cite this Entry

“Divorce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/divorce. Accessed 25 Jan. 2022.

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More Definitions for divorce

divorce

noun

di·vorce | \ də-ˈvȯrs

Kids Definition of divorce

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a legal ending of a marriage

divorce

verb

divorced; divorcing

Kids Definition of divorce (Entry 2 of 2)

: to end a marriage legally : get a divorce

divorce

noun

di·vorce

Legal Definition of divorce

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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

verb

divorced; divorcing

Legal Definition of divorce (Entry 2 of 2)

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