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

“This is about the statutes. This is about the separation of powers.”

From The Wall Street Journal

They reiterate a buy rating on miner Lynas, highlighting low costs and growing heavy rare-earths separation capacity “that is likely not fully appreciated yet.”

From The Wall Street Journal

He made numerous runs into the left flank, finding separation from his marker and, with smart touches, brought team-mates into play.

From BBC

However, support for separation plants is accelerating to counter China’s monopoly on exports.

From The Wall Street Journal

The separation between Mars's northern and southern terrains is especially prominent in topographic and context maps.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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