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divorce

[ dih-vawrs ]
/ dɪˈvɔrs /
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See synonyms for: divorce / divorced 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 spouses 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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Origin of divorce

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin dīvortium “separation,” equivalent to dīvort(ere), variant of dīvertere “to turn away” + -ium noun suffix; see divert, -ium

OTHER WORDS FROM divorce

Words nearby divorce

division sign, divisive, divisiveness, divisor, divo, divorce, divorce court, divorcée, divorcement, divorce mill, divot

Other definitions 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

First recorded in 1805–15; from French, noun use of masculine past participle of divorcer, from Medieval Latin dīvortiāre “to divorce,” derivative of Latin dīvortium “separation”; see divorce

usage note for divorcé

See fiancée.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

Words related to divorce

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

How to use divorce in a sentence

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 of divorce

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
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