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

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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 Meanwhile, Goldman’s crucial investment banking division looks to be improving as more companies decide to go public. Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 20 June 2025 Freestyle Digital Media, the digital film distribution division of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group, has acquired One But Many, a documentary that explores the intensifying conflict between humans and wildlife across the globe. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 June 2025 Shortly before the start of the second game of the four-game series between the NL East division rivals, Thomson told reporters that Castellanos would be withheld from Tuesday's starting lineup. Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025 The Athletic spoke to Hong Kong coach Ashley Westwood, who became a professional footballer at United in the 1990s before leaving and embarking on a career that took in spells at Crewe, Sheffield Wednesday and Wrexham, among other clubs in England’s top five divisions. Andy Mitten, New York Times, 8 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for division
Recent Examples of Synonyms for division
Noun
  • Regardless of size, many of these backpacks have internal inserts or dividers that separate smaller equipment from larger equipment.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2025
  • Premium Plus seats will be upgraded with privacy dividers and wireless charging.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • Develop internal processes that ensure departments work with IT to identify where workflows intersect with risk.
    Daniel Root, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
  • A day after a man was shot and killed by Lenexa police, the department declined to provide additional details about the shooting, including whether the man fired at officers.
    Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • The reigning brand champion in the category is Johnnie Walker, which has dominated global whiskey sales throughout the 21st Century.
    Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
  • Viju Mathew Shifting gears from his degree in physical geography, Viju Mathew has spent the last decade covering most categories of the luxury market prior to becoming Robb Report's automotive editor.
    Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 21 June 2025
Noun
  • When the couple split, their assets and properties were divided per the agreement.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 June 2025
  • After a dramatic split from his onetime girlfriend and cofounder, Phil Shawe bought out her half of their translation firm in 2018.
    Phoebe Liu, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • Another focus areas is to bolster electric transmission and distribution systems.
    Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • The distribution of participation fees ensured Europe's clubs would always get the biggest slice of the prize.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • More: Trump says US intel briefed him about how Iran wants to assassinate him to sow discord in US Tehran’s regional power also has been eroded by the death of its strongest regional ally, Syrian strongman Bashir al-Assad.
    Josh Meyer, USA Today, 23 June 2025
  • Success, progress and wins tend to naturally quiet the discord.
    Joe Altieri, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • Plant it in full sun and near a natural wind barrier, such as a fence, building, or larger plantings, to keep the plants from bending over.
    Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2025
  • The quiet horror is that even 20 years later, the fence has not disappeared.
    Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Your president, your Supreme Court and your Republican Congress have allowed DOGE to dismantle all the privacy safeguards in these agencies that once protected our most personal information from being made public.
    Sal Recchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 June 2025
  • The agency is largely self-sufficient, financed by the sale of postage products.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 22 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Division.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/division. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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