dissociate

[dih-soh-shee-eyt, -see-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dissociate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), dis·so·ci·at·ed, dis·so·ci·at·ing.

to sever the association of (oneself); separate: He tried to dissociate himself from the bigotry in his past.

to subject to dissociation.

verb (used without object), dis·so·ci·at·ed, dis·so·ci·at·ing.

to withdraw from association.

to undergo dissociation.

Nearby words

Origin of dissociate

1605–15; dis-¹ + (as)sociate, modeled on Latin dissociātus, past participle of dissociāre to divide, sever

Related formsdis·so·ci·a·tive, adjective

Can be confuseddisassociate dissociate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dissociate

He could mimic printed text with alarming accuracy and dissociate the shapes and lines from their inherent meanings.
The Accidental Artist|Rachel Wolff|October 15, 2009|DAILY BEAST
We have found of what elements the land and water consist, and how these elements combine with each other or dissociate.
The Science of the Stars|E. Walter Maunder
It was the woman's impulse to dissociate the man she loved from the deed, for which she could not but feel horror.
Corleone|F. Marion Crawford
You have just seen me untie the knot, dissociate the electrons, or what you will.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, November, 1930|Various

But he is also aware that it is quite impracticable to dissociate national psychology from international commercial problems.
The Fruits of Victory|Norman Angell
He tried also to dissociate the face in the picture from a living personality.
The Courage of Marge O'Doone|James Oliver Curwood

British Dictionary definitions for dissociate

dissociate

verb

to break or cause to break the association between (people, organizations, etc)

(tr) to regard or treat as separate or unconnected

to undergo or subject to dissociation

Derived Formsdissociative, adjective

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

Word Origin and History for dissociate

dissociate

1610s (implied in dissociated), from Latin dissociatus, past participle of dissociare "to separate from companionship, disunite, set at variance," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + sociare "to join," from socius "companion" (see social (adj.)). Attested from 1540s as a past participle adjective meaning "separated."