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)

Synonyms

• bifurcation
• breakup
• cleavage
• dissolution
• disunion
• division
• fractionalization
• fractionation
• partition
• schism
• scission
• split
• sundering

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

The host of The Kelly Clarkson Show has opened up about how their separation affected her ideas of love. —Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2023

The couple got married in March 2020, and were together for a little over two years before announcing their separation in September 2022. —Olivia Evans, Women's Health, 8 Sep. 2023

Related Jonas and Turner announced their separation in a joint statement from their respective Instagram accounts on Wednesday. —Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 7 Sep. 2023

One of his attorneys, John P. Rowley III, said the prosecution of Navarro raises important questions about the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches of government and the application of executive privilege. —Paul Duggan, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023

Tamir Pardo becomes the latest former senior official to have concluded that Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank amounts to apartheid, a reference to the system of racial separation in South Africa that ended in 1994. —Tia Goldenberg, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2023

Twisting the stem to force separation indicates the melon is not ready. —oregonlive, 2 Sep. 2023

Such functional separations can be necessary to maintain one's sanity and one's level of professionalism when working from home. —Kimberley Mok, Treehugger, 29 Aug. 2023

Willis has opposed the move, contending in court filings that if Meadows were acting in his federal capacity to help Trump with campaign matters, that would be a violation of the Hatch Act, which requires a separation of official duties and campaign duties. —Ashley Oliver, Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing separation

• separation of church and state
• separation anxiety
• grade separation

• separation of church and state
• separation anxiety
• grade separation

Kids 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

: dislocation see shoulder separation

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)