divorce

[ dih-vawrs, -vohrs ]

/ dɪˈvɔrs, -ˈvoʊrs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR divorce ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a judicial declaration dissolving a marriage in whole or in part, especially one that releases the marriage partners from all matrimonial obligations.Compare judicial separation.

any formal separation of husband and wife according to established custom.

total separation; disunion: a divorce between thought and action.

verb (used with object), di·vorced, di·vorc·ing.

to separate by divorce: The judge divorced the couple.

to break the marriage contract between oneself and (one's spouse) by divorce: She divorced her husband.

to separate; cut off: Life and art cannot be divorced.

verb (used without object), di·vorced, di·vorc·ing.

to get a divorce.

Nearby words

division sign, divisionism, divisive, divisor, divo, divorce, divorce court, divorce mill, divorcement, divorcé, divorcée

Origin of divorce

1350–1400; Middle English < Anglo-French < Latin dīvortium separation, equivalent to dīvort(ere), variant of dīvertere to divert + -ium -ium

SYNONYMS FOR divorce

6 dissociate, divide, disconnect, split, disjoin.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR divorce ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

di·vorce·a·ble, adjectivedi·vorc·er, noundi·vor·cive, adjectivenon·di·vorced, adjective

un·di·vorce·a·ble, adjectiveun·di·vorced, adjective

Definition for divorce (2 of 2)

divorcé

[ dih-vawr-sey, -vohr-, -vawr-sey, -vohr- ]

/ dɪ vɔrˈseɪ, -voʊr-, -ˈvɔr seɪ, -ˈvoʊr- /

noun

a divorced man.

Origin of divorcé

1805–15; < French, noun use of masculine past participle of divorcer < Medieval Latin dīvortiāre to divorce, derivative of Latin dīvortium divorce

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

Examples from the Web for divorce

Just a week after her divorce, she was invited to a wedding by her sister-in-law.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda|Ruth Michaelson|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The pair began their relationship in 2007, and went public with it in 2010 after her divorce was finalized.
Hell Hath No Fury Like Valerie Trierweiler, the French President’s Ex|Lizzie Crocker|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She moved out a month later, and du Pont subsequently filed for divorce.
Foxcatcher’s Real-Life Psycho Killer|Marlow Stern|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Divorce ensued, along with a deluge of humiliating media coverage.
The Very Rich Should Divorce Very Quietly|Vicky Ward|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Ruby also danced in a chorus of a Hollywood club for a while, as her marriage deteriorated and finally ended in divorce.
Gay Talese on Charlie Manson’s Home on the Range|Gay Talese|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And I told him also it was no use his trying to get a divorce from me, as he had nothing to go upon.
A Country Sweetheart|Dora Russell
"After the divorce Ida came to me," she said, speaking more freely.
Van Bibber and Others|Richard Harding Davis
The Divorce bill of 1857 was introduced in the Lords, and passed by them without effective resistance.
The Life of William Ewart Gladstone, Vol. 1 (of 3)|John Morley
It is made very difficult for a woman to secure a divorce, etc.
The Modern Woman's Rights Movement|Kaethe Schirmacher
She ignored the Divorce; her passionate remorse asserted itself as obstinately as ever.
The Evil Genius|Wilkie Collins

British Dictionary definitions for divorce (1 of 2)

divorce

/ (dɪˈvɔːs) /

noun

the dissolution of a marriage by judgment of a court or by accepted custom

a judicial decree declaring a marriage to be dissolved

a separation, esp one that is total or complete

verb

to separate or be separated by divorce; give or obtain a divorce (to a couple or from one's spouse)

(tr) to remove or separate, esp completely

Derived Forms

divorceable, adjectivedivorcer, noundivorcive, adjective

Word Origin for divorce

C14: from Old French, from Latin dīvortium from dīvertere to separate; see divert

British Dictionary definitions for divorce (2 of 2)

divorcé

/ (dɪˈvɔːseɪ) /

noun

a man who has been divorced

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