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Synonyms

disestablish

American  
[dis-i-stab-lish] / ˌdɪs ɪˈstæb lɪʃ /

verb (used with object)

  1. to deprive of the character of being established; cancel; abolish.

  2. to withdraw exclusive state recognition or support from (a church).


disestablish British  
/ ˌdɪsɪˈstæblɪʃ /

verb

  1. (tr) to deprive (a church, custom, institution, etc) of established status

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • disestablishment noun
  • undisestablished adjective

Etymology

Origin of disestablish

First recorded in 1590–1600; dis- 1 + establish

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Federal policies at various points in history sought to disestablish reservations and force Native Americans into cities.

From Washington Times • Jan. 6, 2023

Virginia Heffernan talks to Fordham Law professor Jed Shugerman, about the big picture behind Amy Coney Barrett, ways we can disestablish the Senate, and the concept of originalism when interpreting the U.S.

From Slate • Oct. 16, 2020

Influenced by deistic distaste for sectarian disputes, pragmatic politicians would eventually decide that the best solution was to disestablish the churches and cut off public funding in the name of religious freedom.

From Textbooks • Jan. 18, 2018

Government programs, once established, do not tend to disestablish themselves, but the growth and modernization of the federal government was probably inevitable.

From The New Yorker • Dec. 21, 2015

That is a very good argument for the ministers, and we shall see by-and-by, if the conversion of Scotland proceeds much further, that you may be asked to disestablish their Church.

From Speeches on Questions of Public Policy, Volume 1 by Bright, John