separation

[sep-uh-rey-shuhn]

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

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of separation¹

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

Example Sentences

“That is the natural timing when a mother would push a cub away to find its own territory, so it’s a more natural separation.”

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Challenging trusts requires clear evidence of fraud at the time of transfer, or that marital funds were improperly transferred after separation.

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The separation of church and state, they hope, can somehow be made to guarantee that religion plays no role in the decision-making processes of private citizens as they undertake their public duty as voters.

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In July 2025, a study from the University of California, Riverside, stated that “even the threat of separation can generate profound emotional harm” for children of immigrant families.

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Under Armour said it doesn’t expect the separation with Curry to significantly affect its financial results or profits.

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Related Words

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