1
: not joined, connected, or combined : placed or kept apart
two separate buildings
There are separate restrooms for men and women.
The boys/girls have separate rooms.
They slept in separate beds.
We use the same Internet service provider but have separate accounts.
The company broke up into three separate [=independent] entities.
Each state has a separate set of laws [=has its own set of laws] concerning marriage.
He tries to keep his private life and public life separate (from each other). = He tries to keep his private life separate from his public life.
2
: different from something else
I met him on four separate [=different] occasions.
: not related
That's an entirely separate issue.
separates; separated; separating
1
: to cause (two or more people or things) to stop being together, joined, or connected : to make (people or things) separate
He separated the fighters (from each other).
They described the process used to separate cream from milk.
(US) He fell and separated [=dislocated] his shoulder. [=caused the bone in his shoulder to move out of its proper position]
2
: to be between (two things or people)
A river separates the two towns. = The two towns are separated by a river. [=there is a river between the two towns]
A great distance separated the sisters from each other.
3
: to stop being together, joined, or connected : to become separate
They walked together to the corner, but then they separated and went their separate ways.
The main group separated into several smaller groups.
Oil and water separate when combined together.
The oil separated from the water.
The salt crystals separated out of the liquid.
4
: to stop living with a husband, wife, or partner
They separated six months after their wedding.
She separated from her boyfriend last week.
5
: to see or describe the differences between (two things)
We need to separate [=distinguish] fact and/from fiction.
6
: to be the quality that makes (people or things) different : differentiate
Their personalities and political beliefs separate them.
Our ability to reason is what separates us from animals.
7
—used to describe how much difference there is in the scores or positions of people or teams in a race, game, etc.
One goal separated the teams at the beginning of the third period.
Polls show that the candidates are separated by only a narrow margin as the election approaches.
Cite this Entry
“Separate.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/separate. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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