divided

American  

[dih-vahy-did] / dɪˈvaɪ dɪd /

adjective

1. separated; separate.

2. disunited.

3. shared; apportioned.

4. (of a leaf ) cut into distinct portions by incisions extending to the midrib or base.

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divided British  

/ dɪˈvaɪdɪd /

adjective

1. botany another word for dissected

2. split; not united

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Other Word Forms

• dividedly adverb
• dividedness noun
• quasi-divided adjective
• quasi-dividedly adverb
• self-divided adjective
• semidivided adjective
• undivided adjective
• well-divided adjective

Etymology

Origin of divided

First recorded in 1555–65; divide + -ed ²

Explanation

Something that's divided is sectioned or split into parts. A divided political party might be separated into several groups with very different opinions on what the party's priorities ought to be. Things can be physically divided, the way a pizza is when it's cut into eight separate pieces, or the way a highway is when it has a concrete barrier between lanes that go in different directions. There's also a figurative way of being divided, like a divided family that's feuding about something, or divided experts who disagree on the findings of a study. The adjective divided comes from the Latin dividere, "to force apart, cleave, or distribute."

Example Sentences

In Nacka, the views of final year pupils are also divided.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

When LIV Golf launched in 2022, it divided the entire sport into two camps.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

“We’re in a divided era right now,” Strickland said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

These are Thursday’s closing prices divided by consensus 12-month earnings-per-share estimates among analysts polled by LSEG.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

Although Roosevelt respected Rondon, he disagreed with him, insisting that the Americans’ food rations now be divided evenly among everyone despite the fact that they were already low.

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple