separation
noun
sep·a·ra·tion
ˌse-pə-ˈrā-shən 
1
: the act or process of separating : the state of being separated
2
a
: a point, line, or means of division
b
: an intervening space : gap
the separation between wheel spokes
3
a
: cessation of cohabitation between a married couple by mutual agreement or judicial decree
b
: termination of a contractual relationship (such as employment or military service)
Examples of separation in a Sentence
After a separation of 30 years, she visited her family in Cuba.
Moving away meant separation from his family.
Recent Examples on the Web
Florida played from behind all of Game 1, failed to get any separation in Game 2 and had to rally from multiple two-goal deficits in Game 3.
—
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 15 May 2025
One of the biggest distinctions between a dedicated business owner and someone simply with some side freelance income is the separation of business and personal funds.
—Vlad Rusz, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
That conclusion—as well as the Reagan administration’s lack of concern with legality—confirmed the erosion of core democratic norms, including separation of powers, rule of law, judicial independence, consent of the governed, and trust.
—Time, 14 May 2025
The May 2023 rebrand to Max was widely panned, with critics confused by both the separation from HBO and a glitchy tech rollout.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for separation
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Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 15 May 2025
One of the biggest distinctions between a dedicated business owner and someone simply with some side freelance income is the separation of business and personal funds.
—Vlad Rusz, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
That conclusion—as well as the Reagan administration’s lack of concern with legality—confirmed the erosion of core democratic norms, including separation of powers, rule of law, judicial independence, consent of the governed, and trust.
—Time, 14 May 2025
The May 2023 rebrand to Max was widely panned, with critics confused by both the separation from HBO and a glitchy tech rollout.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for separation
Cite this Entry
“Separation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/separation. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
separation
noun
sep·a·ra·tion
ˌsep-ə-ˈrā-shən
1
: the act or process of separating : the state of being separated
2
a
: a point or line of division
b
: a space that comes between things : gap
the separation between wheel spokes
3
a
: a formal separating of spouses by agreement but without divorce
b
: the ending of a relationship that is bound by a contract (as employment or military service)
Medical Definition
separation
noun
sep·a·ra·tion
ˌsep-ə-ˈrā-shən
1
: the process of isolating or extracting from or of becoming isolated from a mixture
also
: the resulting state
2
Legal Definition
separation
noun
sep·a·ra·tion
ˌse-pə-ˈrā-shən
1
: cessation of cohabitation between a married couple by mutual agreement with intent that it be permanent
also
: legal separation compare divorce
Note: In some cases in which the estrangement is extreme, a separation is considered to have occurred even when the couple retain the same residence if they have stopped communicating and engaging in sexual relations and intend to be separated.
2
: termination of a contractual relationship (as employment or military service)
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