separation anxiety

noun

|Updated on: 11 Jul 2018

Definition of separation anxiety

: a form of anxiety experienced by a young child and caused by separation from a significant nurturant figure and typically a parent or from familiar surroundings

See separation anxiety defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of separation anxiety from the Web

To help with separation anxiety and develop trust, teachers visit houses during the two weeks before school begins to meet children in their environment and establish a home-school connection.

— nadine jolie courtney, Town & Country, "These Preschools Are the Ivy League of Early Education," 11 Oct. 2016
Many suffer from separation anxiety, cry uncontrollably and have trouble sleeping because of recurring nightmares.

— james hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Trump lost a battle on family separations, but his immigration war continues," 21 June 2018
Dog sharing or going to a dog day care is ideal for canines that have separation anxiety, Sackman said.

— rene wisely, Detroit Free Press, "Is dog sharing the new way to keep dogs, owners together?," 8 June 2018
Meanwhile, veterinary providers and pet owners are paying increased attention to such problems as separation anxiety, compulsive behaviors, phobias and aggression in pets.

— nathaniel morris, chicagotribune.com, "Does your pooch really need Prozac?," 1 May 2018
Sophia suffered the worst crate and separation anxiety her rescuer had seen.

— amy mcrary, USA TODAY, "Puppy with anxiety gets special flight for canine therapy," 7 Mar. 2018
Meanwhile, veterinary providers and pet owners are paying increased attention to such problems as separation anxiety, compulsive behaviors, phobias and aggression in pets.

— nathaniel morris, Washington Post, "Does your pooch really need Prozac?," 28 Apr. 2018
These behaviors could reveal mild separation anxiety that's exacerbated by storms.

— National Geographic, "Why Your Dog Freaks Out During Thunderstorms—And What to Do," 28 Apr. 2018
Just as separation anxiety can continue well past early phases of development, comfort items, too, carry over into adulthood.

— devon murphy, The Cut, "My Ex’s Old Stuff Saved Me After Our Breakup," 6 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'separation anxiety.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of separation anxiety

1943

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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SEPARATION ANXIETY Defined for English Language Learners

separation anxiety

noun

Definition of separation anxiety for English Language Learners

: a feeling of strong fear and anxiety that is experienced by a young child when the child is separated from a parent

Medical Dictionary

separation anxiety

noun

medical Definition of separation anxiety

: a form of anxiety that is caused by separation from a significant nurturant figure and typically a parent or from familiar surroundings and that has an onset during childhood or sometimes adolescence