division

noun

di·​vi·​sion də-ˈvi-zhən 

1

a

: the act or process of dividing : the state of being divided

b

: the act, process, or an instance of distributing among a number : distribution

2

: one of the parts or groupings into which a whole is divided or is divisible

3

: the condition or an instance of being divided in opinion or interest : disagreement, disunity

exploited the divisions between the two countries

4

a

: something that divides, separates, or marks off

b

: the act, process, or an instance of separating or keeping apart : separation

5

: the mathematical operation of dividing something

6

a

: a self-contained major military unit capable of independent action

b

: a tactical military unit composed of headquarters and usually three to five brigades

c(1)

: the basic naval administrative unit

(2)

: a tactical subdivision of a squadron of ships

d

: a unit of the U.S. Air Force higher than a wing and lower than an air force

7

a

: a portion of a territorial unit marked off for a particular purpose (such as administrative or judicial functions)

b

: an administrative or operating unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization

8

: the physical separation into different lobbies of the members of a parliamentary body voting for and against a question

9

: plant propagation by dividing parts and planting segments capable of producing roots and shoots

10

: a group of organisms forming part of a larger group

specifically : a primary category of the plant kingdom in biological taxonomy that is typically equivalent to a phylum

11

: a competitive class or category (as in boxing or wrestling)

divisional

də-ˈvizh-nəl 

-ˈvi-zhə-nᵊl

adjective

Synonyms

• divider
• partition
• separation
• separator

Choose the Right Synonym for division

part, portion, piece, member, division, section, segment, fragment mean something less than the whole.

part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

Examples of division in a Sentence

the process of cell division

a division of profits into equal shares

After learning multiplication, the students were taught division.

Recent Examples on the Web

Houston Texans: The Texans are division champs for the second straight season. —Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024

By comparison, organic sales at LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton’s key fashion and leather goods division fell 5 percent year-over-year in the third quarter. —Samantha Conti, WWD, 16 Dec. 2024

Either retreat to old patterns of partisan division or build something truly great— a comprehensive approach to public safety that honors both law enforcement and community wisdom while making sound economic sense. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024

Pittsburgh can win the AFC North crown with a victory, while Baltimore can take the division lead with a win. —Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French devision, from Latin division-, divisio, from dividere to divide

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing division

• cell division
• division of labor
• division sign
• long division
• panzer division
• reduction division
• short division
• synthetic division

Kids Definition

division

noun

di·​vi·​sion də-ˈvizh-ən 

1

a

: the act or process of dividing : the state of being divided

b

: distribution sense 1

c

: cell division

2

: a part or portion of a whole

3

: something that divides, separates, or marks off

4

: a large military unit

5

: a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization

6

: difference in opinion or interest : disagreement

7

: the mathematical operation of dividing something

8

: a category in most classifications of the plant kingdom that is equal to a phylum

divisional

-ˈvizh-(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Medical Definition

division

noun

di·​vi·​sion də-ˈvizh-ən 

1

: the act or process of dividing : the state of being divided see cell division

2

: a group of organisms forming part of a larger group

specifically : a primary category of the plant kingdom that is typically equivalent to a phylum

divisional

-ˈvizh-nəl, -ˈvizh-ən-ᵊl 

adjective