dissociation

noun

dis·​so·​ci·​a·​tion (ˌ)di-ˌsō-sē-ˈā-shən 

-shē-

plural dissociations

1

: the act or process of dissociating : the state of being dissociated: such as

a

: the process by which a chemical combination breaks up into simpler constituents

especially : one that results from the action of energy (such as heat) on a gas or of a solvent on a dissolved substance

b

: the separation of whole segments of the personality (as in dissociative identity disorder) or of discrete mental processes (as in schizophrenia) from the mainstream of consciousness or of behavior

2

: the property inherent in some biological stocks (as of certain bacteria) of differentiating into two or more distinct and relatively permanent strains

also : such a strain

dissociative

(ˌ)di-ˈsō-shē-ˌā-tiv 

-sē-

-shə-tiv

adjective

Examples of dissociation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In another form of dissociation, called derealization, people may experience time in slow motion, or their surroundings may not feel real. —Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 24 Sep. 2024

Emerging from environmental dissociation Sept. 11, 2024 Feeling climate anxiety? —Jade S. Sasser, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2024

Coming up with guidelines for how to assess cognitive motor dissociation will be the focus of future work, the team says. —Michael Irving, New Atlas, 16 Aug. 2024

My diagnosis of Ella was based on the DSM-5 criteria, her score on various psychological tests of dissociation, and our years of working together. —Rebecca J. Lester, Scientific American, 1 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

dissociation

noun

dis·​so·​ci·​a·​tion (ˌ)dis-ˌō-sē-ˈā-shən 

-shē-

: the act or process of dissociating : the state of being dissociated

especially : the process by which a chemical combination breaks up into simpler substances of which it is made

Medical Definition

dissociation

noun

dis·​so·​ci·​a·​tion (ˌ)dis-ˌō-sē-ˈā-shən  -shē- 

1

: the act or process of dissociating : the state of being dissociated: as

a

: the process by which a chemical combination breaks up into simpler constituents

especially : one that results from the action of energy (as heat) on a gas or of a solvent on a dissolved substance

b

: the separation of whole segments of the personality (as in dissociative identity disorder) or of discrete mental processes (as in schizophrenia) from the mainstream of consciousness or of behavior with loss of integrated awareness and autonomous functioning of the separated segments or parts

2

: the process by which some biological stocks (as of certain bacteria) differentiate into two or more distinct and relatively permanent strains

also : such a strain