severed

American  

[sev-erd] / ˈsɛv ərd /

adjective

1. separated from the whole or divided into parts, as by cutting or the like.

   The severed cables belonged to two internet companies.

2. (of ties or a relationship) broken off or dissolved.

   One of the greatest tragedies we see in our work is the severed relationships between those in need and their family and friends.

3. Law. (of an estate, titles of a statute, etc.) divided into parts.

   A practice known as severed property, or split estates, allows developers to keep or obtain mineral rights underneath privately owned land.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of sever.

Other Word Forms

• half-severed
  adjective
• unsevered
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of severed

sever ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

Something severed is cut off from its whole. A severed rope turns into two detached and individual pieces. In a severed relationship, people lose communication with one another. To be severed is to be separated completely. Think of a tree branch being cut away from its trunk, or a connection being broken between two friends. The word comes from the Latin separare, meaning "to separate or pull apart." The adjective can refer to physical objects, like ropes or limbs, or to relationships and ties, such as friendships or contracts.

Example Sentences

Indiscernible shapes draped across mannequins, severed sleeves in electric hues, deconstructed pants and endless interactions of athletic forms in morphing neon suits.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

These two countries severed ties in 1975 after failing to reach agreement on a long-standing beef for landlocked Bolivia: access to the Pacific Ocean.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

He startled Beijing by taking Tsai’s congratulatory call on his election, making him the first U.S. president-elect to speak directly to a Taiwanese leader since 1979, when Washington severed formal diplomatic ties with the island.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

This forced removal and severed ties with their homeland, combined with a "coercive environment" in Russia, "has been a source of deep distress for the children", according to the UN.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

As soon as Dr. Philobosian had severed the cord of flesh, another, spiritual connection had grown up in its place.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Related Words

• busted
• collapsed
• cracked
• crumbled
• crushed
• damaged
• defective
• demolished
• destroyed
• fractured
• fragmented
• injured
• mangled
• mutilated
• ruptured
• shattered
• smashed
• splintered