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.

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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

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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 separation allows their phase and dispersion properties to be controlled independently.

From Science Daily

The idea, said people close to Beijing, is that separation from the U.S. is acceptable as long as China remains firmly connected to the rest of the world.

From The Wall Street Journal

It should remind us that the goal isn’t permanent separation, but a shared understanding.

From The Wall Street Journal

Those who could hope for a bonus of extra time off expected more separation between their work and personal lives than those whose potential bonus would be extra pay.

From The Wall Street Journal

US media have reported that before their separation, Melinda French Gates had been upset about her husband's association with Epstein.

From BBC

Related Words

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