1
as in divider
something that divides, separates, or marks off we poked our heads over the division between the yards to see what the fuss was about

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in department
a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization the complaints division handled all of the calls from the angry townsfolk

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
5
as in distribution
the act or process of giving out something to each member of a group the person in charge of the division of the profits among the business partners

Synonyms & Similar Words

6

Synonym Chooser

How is the word division distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of division are fragment, member, part, piece, portion, section, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When would fragment be a good substitute for division?

While in some cases nearly identical to division, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

When can member be used instead of division?

While the synonyms member and division are close in meaning, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

Where would part be a reasonable alternative to division?

The words part and division can be used in similar contexts, but part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

In what contexts can piece take the place of division?

In some situations, the words piece and division are roughly equivalent. However, piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

When is portion a more appropriate choice than division?

Although the words portion and division have much in common, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When could section be used to replace division?

The synonyms section and division are sometimes interchangeable, but section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

When is it sensible to use segment instead of division?

The words segment and division are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of division Evanston In Evanston, the only change to local beaches will be providing free beach access to all students enrolled in Evanston-Skokie School District 65 or Evanston Township High School, said Tim Carter, lakefront and athletics division manager for the city. Phil Rockrohr, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025 Used with permission from Bramble, an imprint of Tor Publishing Group; a trade division of Macmillan Publishers. Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 15 May 2025 Alibaba's core Taobao and Tmall group division — the company's China e-commerce business — saw revenue rise 9% to 101.4 billion yuan. Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 15 May 2025 Replant divisions elsewhere in the landscape or share them with friends and neighbors. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for division
Recent Examples of Synonyms for division
Noun
  • United Premium Plus seats have privacy dividers and wireless charging, and Economy seats will feature what United says are the largest economy class seatback screens in the world.
    Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 13 May 2025
  • The main freezer has a divider for efficient organization, and the auto-close feature ensures doors shut completely when not fully pushed in.
    Alice Knisley Matthias, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 May 2025
Noun
  • Prioritize Communication With Department Heads Prioritizing strong relationships and consistent communication with department heads can help.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • Then, there was no mass exodus, department veterans say.
    Ryan Lucas, NPR, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • People in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell their health care provider.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • There are also three group categories for dance, musical instrument/bands, and vocal groups.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • The latter split at the end of the 1968 season due to financial disagreements and eventually founded the current PGA Tour.
    Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025
  • Following the split, she was also rumored to be dating Prince Constantine-Alexios of Greece and Denmark.
    Rachel McRady, People.com, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Managing assets for routine distributions emphasizes an area less critical for long-term investors only seeking capital appreciation with indefinite holding periods: income.
    Michael Khouw, CNBC, 12 May 2025
  • Coppola is keeping the distribution of the film all in the family, as his nephew Robert Schwartzman’s company Utopia has acquired the North American rights for the film.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 12 May 2025
Noun
  • What all of these cases have in common is a truly gigantic deer, and then, sadly, lots of discord within the hunting community.
    Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 May 2025
  • In addition to the discord within the athletic department, Ritz acknowledged in an April 11 email to the community that he’s also dealt with two other serious issues involving staffers.
    Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 11 May 2025
Noun
  • The ball ended up clearing the fence at Sutter Health Park as Yankee center fielder Trent Grisham ran out of room and his back hit the wall.
    Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 11 May 2025
  • His wood back fence was gone, but his dog and house were fine.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • UnitedHealth has said in regulatory filings that investigations, audits and reviews by a dozen different government agencies are underway.
    Amina Niasse, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • Dire conditions in Gaza As the situation for Palestinian civilians grows increasingly dire, UN agencies are calling for urgent action.
    Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Division.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/division. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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