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 DeMeco Ryans will have the honor to try to mesh all of the newcomers together to put a division-championship team on the field. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025 Basically, once the combined number of Detroit Tigers wins and losses by the Kansas City Royals or Cleveland Guardians (whoever ends up in second place) hits the magic number, the Tigers will claim their first division title since 2014. Christian Romo, Freep.com, 4 Sep. 2025 The teams are all fairly evenly matched, and the Seahawks finished with the same record as the division champion Los Angeles Rams last season. Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025 The elite division is trained to mobilize worldwide within hours. Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for division
Recent Examples of Synonyms for division
Noun
  • There’s also room divider filled with large glass jars of his damgeum-ju, or infused liquors.
    Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • The compression system inside is genius, and the sectioned divider keeps my dirty clothes from contaminating the rest of my items (major win).
    Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • By July, the department walked back its need for a large-scale reduction in force.
    Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Renaming the department would likely require an act of Congress.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • While Greene didn't win in the best supporting actor category, the movie was named the year's Best Picture.
    Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • When inquiring about a networking organization, understanding the differences among the most prominent categories could further inform a business owner’s decisions.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Since their split, Fox has also welcomed a new addition.
    Daniel S. Levine, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The split will reverse a massive but largely unsuccessful 2015 merger arranged by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway and the investment firm 3G Capital, Heinz and Kraft’s owners at the time.
    Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Burns was indicted by a grand jury in Fayetteville in November and pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography in February, according to court documents.
    NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2025
  • During a conference call with reporters earlier this week, NFL EVP of media distribution Hans Schroeder confirmed that the calendar loophole in the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 that allowed for two years of late-summer Friday dates will temporarily close in 2026.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • When a mother tree is felled, the survival rate of many of its seedlings may be drastically reduced, a process not unlike the reciprocal feedback loop of Yggdrasill, whose deterioration in response to discord in the nine realms spells cosmic collapse.
    Ellen Walker, JSTOR Daily, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Growing discord between Democrats over the ongoing war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas flared during the second day of the Democratic National Committee's (DNC) summer meeting.
    Staff, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The car hit a fence and a power pole.
    Sam Blum, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Hanging from the fence was a backpack and a reusable shopping bag — each containing a plate capable of stopping small arms fire, according to prosecutors.
    Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • How do these different agencies work together?
    Kristen Edgreen Kaufman, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Congress had enacted byzantine eligibility requirements for disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits, forcing the agency to expend huge amounts of time and money running those programs.
    Eli Hager, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Division.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/division. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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