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definitions

divorce

[ dih-vawrs, -vohrs ]
/ dɪˈvɔrs, -ˈvoʊrs /
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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.

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

to get a divorce.

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RELATED WORDS

breakup, dissolution, split, separation, annulment, dissociate, disconnect, sever, separate, division, divorcement, severance, disunion, partition, break, detachment, breach, rupture, dissociation, splitsville

Nearby words

  1. divisionism,
  2. divisive,
  3. divisively,
  4. divisor,
  5. divo,
  6. divorce court,
  7. divorce mill,
  8. divorced,
  9. divorcee,
  10. divorcement

Origin of divorce

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

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

British Dictionary definitions for divorce

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 Formsdivorceable, adjectivedivorcer, noundivorcive, adjective

Word Origin for divorce

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

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
Word Origin and History for divorce
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper