separation

American  

[sep-uh-rey-shuhn] / ˌsɛp əˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of separating or the state of being separated.

2. a place, line, or point of parting.

3. a gap, hole, rent, or the like.

4. something that separates or divides.

5. Law.

   1. cessation of conjugal cohabitation, as by mutual consent.

   2. judicial separation.

6. Aerospace. the time or act of releasing a burned-out stage of a rocket or missile from the remainder.

7. Photography. separation negative.

---

separation British  

/ ˌsɛpəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of separating or state of being separated

2. the place or line where a separation is made

3. a gap that separates

4. family law the cessation of cohabitation between a man and wife, either by mutual agreement or under a decree of a court Compare judicial separation divorce

5. 1. the act of jettisoning a burnt-out stage of a multistage rocket

   2. the instant at which such a stage is jettisoned

---

Other Word Forms

• nonseparation noun
• preseparation noun
• reseparation noun

Etymology

Origin of separation

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin sēparātiōn- (stem of sēparātiō ), equivalent to sēparāt ( us ) separate + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

The container terminals are located at the entrances of the waterway, a proximity that has long magnified their strategic sensitivity despite their formal separation from canal operations.

From The Wall Street Journal

The company said it will provide affected employees with separation packages, transitional benefits and job placement support.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Building on this momentum, we now expect the separation of our automation and aerospace businesses to be completed in the third quarter of 2026,” he added.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Haven’t they ever heard of separation anxiety? What is the matter with these people? I have taken care of toddlers with FAS, and they are nothing like Boo.”

From Literature

But I just want to note that, from a separation of powers point of view, it’s very interesting to see federal judges seeming to distrust official accounts of events from the executive branch.

From Salon

Related Words

• departure
• disengagement
• dissolution
• divorce
• estrangement
• partition
• segregation
• split