plural divorces
1
: the ending of a marriage by a legal process
Since getting a divorce, she has been raising her children alone.
They went through a lengthy/messy divorce.
Their marriage ended in divorce.
They are filing for divorce. [=they are filing a paper with the courts asking that their marriage be legally ended]
Financial problems are a leading cause of divorce.
—often used before another nouna divorce lawyer/court
a high divorce rate
divorce proceedings
2
formal
: a complete separation between two things
—usually singular
a divorce between theory and practice
divorces; divorced; divorcing
1
: to legally end your marriage with (your husband or wife)
After years of unhappiness, she decided to divorce him.
They both agreed it was best to divorce.
2
formal
: to make or keep (something) separate
Their constitution divorces church and state.
—often + fromThe organization hasn't yet fully divorced itself from its troubled past.
Cite this Entry
“Divorce.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/divorce. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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