secession

noun

se·​ces·​sion si-ˈse-shən 

1

: withdrawal into privacy or solitude : retirement

2

: formal withdrawal from an organization

Examples of secession in a Sentence

the secession of the Southern states

Recent Examples on the Web

Residents of Piddington, which has a population of about 350, voted overwhelmingly for secession in the non-binding referendum. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

But the movement has momentum—for the first time, Alberta has a provincial government willing to allow a referendum on secession. — Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026

The results were overwhelmingly in favor of secession, leading to South Sudan’s independence months later. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

During the Civil War, Dougherty opposed the abolition of slavery, but also did not support secession. — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin secession-, secessio, from secedere

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for secession

• accession
• aggression
• compression
• concession
• confession
• depression
• digression
• discretion
• expression
• impression
• obsession
• oppression

Kids Definition

secession

noun

se·​ces·​sion si-ˈsesh-ən 

: the act of seceding