severance

American  

[sev-er-uhns, sev-ruhns] / ˈsɛv ər əns, ˈsɛv rəns /

noun

1. the act of severing or the state of being severed.

2. a breaking off, as of a friendship.

3. Law. a division into parts, as of liabilities or provisions; removal of a part from the whole.

4. severance pay.

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severance British  

/ ˈsɛvərəns /

noun

1. the act of severing or state of being severed

2. a separation

3. law the division into separate parts of a joint estate, contract, etc

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Other Word Forms

• nonseverance
  noun

Etymology

Origin of severance

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English severaunce, from Anglo-French; equivalent to sever + -ance

Explanation

A severance is the ending of a connection or relationship. A terrible argument between you and your cousin could turn into an all-out feud and eventually a complete severance between the two branches of your family. The noun severance implies a separation or cut of some kind, like a severance between your father and the political party with which he has become disenchanted. If you cut off relations with a person, group, or organization, you've initiated a severance. The phrase "severance pay" means the deal a company offers to an employee who's being let go. Severance comes from the word sever, "to cut," whose origin is the Latin separare, or "separate."

Example Sentences

The company estimates that severance and other restructuring will cost between $140 million and $150 million for 2026.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

U.S. employees will receive severance of 16 weeks of base pay, plus two additional weeks for every year they have been with the company, Gale added.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

The company said it would also book charges of $95 million to $130 million for severance and related costs, with most of the charges expected in the second quarter.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

The university reopened a voluntary severance and early retirement scheme last year in a bid to find £5.5m in savings.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Discharged with or without honor, fired with or without severance, dispossessed with or without notice, they hung around for a while and then could not imagine themselves anywhere else.

From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison