separation

[sep-uh-rey-shuhn]

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.

separation

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• nonseparation noun
• preseparation noun
• reseparation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of separation¹

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

Example Sentences

These include mining, smelting and separation, magnetic material manufacturing, and recycling rare earths from other resources.

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The Red Sea formed by separation of the Arabian Plate from the African Plate beginning 30 million years ago.

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"We are scattered. The separation is the hardest thing," she said.

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Soon after, I saw images on social media of Hamas fighters crossing the separation fence towards Israel.

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"That is, I think, going to be our separation, our USP."

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Related Words

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