separation

American  

[sep-uh-rey-shuhn] / ˌsɛp əˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of separating or the state of being separated.

2. a place, line, or point of parting.

3. a gap, hole, rent, or the like.

4. something that separates or divides.

5. Law.

   1. cessation of conjugal cohabitation, as by mutual consent.

   2. judicial separation.

6. Aerospace. the time or act of releasing a burned-out stage of a rocket or missile from the remainder.

7. Photography. separation negative.

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separation British  

/ ˌsɛpəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of separating or state of being separated

2. the place or line where a separation is made

3. a gap that separates

4. family law the cessation of cohabitation between a man and wife, either by mutual agreement or under a decree of a court Compare judicial separation divorce

5. 1. the act of jettisoning a burnt-out stage of a multistage rocket

   2. the instant at which such a stage is jettisoned

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preseparation
  noun
• nonseparation
  noun
• reseparation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of separation

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin sēparātiōn- (stem of sēparātiō ), equivalent to sēparāt ( us ) separate + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

When two things that were together come apart, it's a separation, whether they're the two halves of your Oreo or a married couple splitting up. If you leave your beloved cat to go to college, it's a separation — the two of you are parting ways, at least for a little while. The root is the Latin word separare, which means "to pull apart." A separation from someone you care about can be hard, but the trickiest thing about separation is remembering how to spell it. One common trick is to keep in mind that there's "a rat" in the middle of the word.

Example Sentences

“With this potential separation of the Knicks and Rangers and the tax treatment issues, you can finally see everything aligning to get some sort of transaction.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

And even though the government has announced a plan to ramp up local production, China controls some 70-80% of lithium and cobalt refining and nearly 90% of rare earth separation, according to KPMG.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

Following the couple’s separation in 2024, they listed the shared residence for about $68 million, apparently with no acceptable offers made.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026

They also analyzed the liver and spleen using techniques known as "vibrating sample magnetometry" and "magnetic cell separation."

From Science Daily • May 31, 2026

There was only one degree of separation between them.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

Related Words

• departure
• disengagement
• dissolution
• divorce
• estrangement
• partition
• segregation
• split