dissociation

noun

dis·​so·​ci·​a·​tion (ˌ)di-ˌsō-sē-ˈā-shən 

-shē-

plural dissociations

1

: the act or process of dissociating : the state of being dissociated: such as

a

: the process by which a chemical combination breaks up into simpler constituents

especially : one that results from the action of energy (such as heat) on a gas or of a solvent on a dissolved substance

b

: the separation of whole segments of the personality (as in dissociative identity disorder) or of discrete mental processes (as in schizophrenia) from the mainstream of consciousness or of behavior

2

: the property inherent in some biological stocks (as of certain bacteria) of differentiating into two or more distinct and relatively permanent strains

also : such a strain

dissociative

(ˌ)di-ˈsō-shē-ˌā-tiv 

-sē-

-shə-tiv

adjective

Examples of dissociation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The drug has psychedelic properties and can cause dissociation from reality. —Kirsten Grind, New York Times, 30 May 2025

In near-misses, a reaction known as electromagnetic dissociation can occur. —George Petras, USA Today, 17 May 2025

Lots of hip-hop tracks are meant to evoke the woozy dissociation of opioid use, but this one evokes, instead, the not-quite-pleasurable derangement of disappearing down a social-media rabbit hole. —Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 15 May 2025

This pulse can trigger a process known as electromagnetic dissociation, in which a photon interacts with a nucleus, inducing internal oscillations that eject neutrons and photons. —Victoria Corless, Space.com, 13 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dissociation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

dissociation

noun

dis·​so·​ci·​a·​tion (ˌ)dis-ˌō-sē-ˈā-shən 

-shē-

: the act or process of dissociating : the state of being dissociated

especially : the process by which a chemical combination breaks up into simpler substances of which it is made

Medical Definition

dissociation

noun

dis·​so·​ci·​a·​tion (ˌ)dis-ˌō-sē-ˈā-shən  -shē- 

1

: the act or process of dissociating : the state of being dissociated: as

a

: the process by which a chemical combination breaks up into simpler constituents

especially : one that results from the action of energy (as heat) on a gas or of a solvent on a dissolved substance

b

: the separation of whole segments of the personality (as in dissociative identity disorder) or of discrete mental processes (as in schizophrenia) from the mainstream of consciousness or of behavior with loss of integrated awareness and autonomous functioning of the separated segments or parts

2

: the process by which some biological stocks (as of certain bacteria) differentiate into two or more distinct and relatively permanent strains

also : such a strain