disassociate

American  

[dis-uh-soh-shee-eyt, -see-] / ˌdɪs əˈsoʊ ʃiˌeɪt, -si- /

verb (used with object)

disassociated, disassociating

1. to dissociate.

---

disassociate British  

/ ˌdɪsəˈsəʊʃɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. a less common word for dissociate

---

Other Word Forms

• disassociation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of disassociate

First recorded in 1595–1605; dis- ¹ + associate

Explanation

It’s often said that we are the company we keep, so it makes sense to disassociate — or distance ourselves — from people whose behaviors and beliefs we do not wish to be connected to. To disassociate means to separate yourself from a person, group, or idea. For example, if you end a friendship with your long-time buddies because you value honesty and they do not, you are disassociating from them. This term often indicates an intentional effort to distance oneself from certain people, organizations, beliefs, or behaviors that are no longer acceptable to you so that you are no longer associated with them.

Example Sentences

Disassociate, dis-as-sō′shi-āt, v.t. to disconnect things associated: to dissociate.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various