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

In the western region, a secession fight has long brewed mainly among English-speaking citizens who claim they are marginalized by the French-speaking majority. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025

Battling secession, segregation and riots. —Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025

These secessions—each driven by a loss of faith in the scientific soundness of the CDC’s recommendations—seem designed to destroy the agency’s credibility. —Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025

The experience of secession, of war, of industrial slaughter and gallant sacrifice, of Black soldiery and humanity all reforged Lincoln into a stronger alloy. —Jack Sheehan september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025

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