dissolution

American  

[dis-uh-loo-shuhn] / ˌdɪs əˈlu ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of resolving or dissolving into parts or elements.

2. the resulting state.

3. the undoing or breaking of a bond, tie, union, partnership, etc.

4. the breaking up of an assembly or organization; dismissal; dispersal.

5. Government. an order issued by the head of a state terminating a parliament and necessitating a new election.

6. death; decease.

7. a bringing or coming to an end; disintegration; decay; termination.

8. legal termination, especially of business activity, with the final distribution of assets, the fixing of liabilities, etc.

9. Chemistry. the process by which a solid, gas, or liquid is dispersed homogeneously in a gas, solid, or, especially, a liquid.

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dissolution British  

/ ˌdɪsəˈluːʃən /

noun

1. the resolution or separation into component parts; disintegration

2. destruction by breaking up and dispersing

3. the termination of a meeting or assembly, such as Parliament

4. the termination of a formal or legal relationship, such as a business enterprise, marriage, etc

5. the state of being dissolute; dissipation

6. the act or process of dissolving

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dissolution Scientific  

/ dĭs′ə-lo̅o̅′shən /

1. The dissolving of a material in a liquid.

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Usage

What does dissolution mean? Dissolution generally refers to the process of dissolving or breaking apart. Dissolution is the noun form of the verb dissolve, which most commonly means to mix into and melt within a liquid but has several other meanings, including to break apart. Dissolution also has several other meanings, including specific ones in contexts such as chemistry, law, and law. When it refers to the process of breaking apart, dissolution commonly applies to things like formal relationships (such as marriage) and organizations (such as a parliament). Example: The dissolution of the company left many people out of work.

Other Word Forms

• dissolutive adverb
• nondissolution noun
• predissolution noun
• prodissolution adjective
• redissolution noun
• self-dissolution noun

Etymology

Origin of dissolution

1350–1400; Middle English dissolucioun (< Anglo-French ) < Latin dissolūtiōn- (stem of dissolūtiō ). See dis- ¹, solution

Explanation

The dissolution of a relationship means that it's broken up or ended. The dissolution of your band means you better get started on your solo album. Dissolution comes from the Latin word dissolutio, meaning "a dissolving of something." Dissolution looks very similar to "dissolve," so to help you remember the meaning, think about what happens if you put paper in water — it breaks apart. A dissolution of a marriage is the same thing as divorce. Although it sounds like disillusion, if you try to use them interchangeably, your logic will fall apart.

Example Sentences

Allbirds also said it would file a statement by April 24 seeking shareholder approval of the sale and a dissolution of the company.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

She’s a 16-year-old Labrador retriever who became the target of a nasty custody fight between a California couple after the dissolution of their domestic partnership.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

Now that the church has lost its first appeal against the ruling, the dissolution order would take effect immediately, local media report.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

The dissolution of the Soviet Union was, at least from a distance, a moment of euphoria.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

Markus Wolf had waited out the fall of communism and now watched the dissolution of his longtime protector, the KGB.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Related Words

• adjournment
• demise
• disbandment
• overthrow
• suspension
• termination