separation

noun

sep·​a·​ra·​tion ˌse-pə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: the act or process of separating : the state of being separated

2

a

: a point, line, or means of division

b

: an intervening space : gap

the separation between wheel spokes

3

a

: cessation of cohabitation between a married couple by mutual agreement or judicial decree

b

: termination of a contractual relationship (such as employment or military service)

Synonyms

• bifurcation
• breakup
• cleavage
• dissolution
• disunion
• division
• fractionalization
• fractionation
• partition
• schism
• scission
• split
• sundering

Examples of separation in a Sentence

After a separation of 30 years, she visited her family in Cuba.

Moving away meant separation from his family.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Zoolander actor told The New York Times in a profile published on Saturday, January 11 that taking his separation from his estranged wife seriously was the key to getting back together. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025

On top of that, Atlanta allowed the highest catch percentage to opposing receivers (65.9 percent) and the second-highest wide-open rate (14.9 percent of catches made by a receiver with at least 5 yards of separation), according to FTN Fantasy tracking. —Josh Kendall, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025

In her divorce filing last year, Griffin cited their date of separation as Dec. 28, 2023, just three days shy of their fourth wedding anniversary. —Julia Moore, People.com, 14 Jan. 2025

Opponents say the law would lead to chaos in federal courts and the separation of longtime residents from their U.S. citizen family members as they are detained indefinitely. —Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing separation

• grade separation
• separation anxiety
• separation of church and state

Kids Definition

separation

noun

sep·​a·​ra·​tion ˌsep-ə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: the act or process of separating : the state of being separated

2

a

: a point or line of division

b

: a space that comes between things : gap

the separation between wheel spokes

3

a

: a formal separating of spouses by agreement but without divorce

b

: the ending of a relationship that is bound by a contract (as employment or military service)

Medical Definition

separation

noun

sep·​a·​ra·​tion ˌsep-ə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: the process of isolating or extracting from or of becoming isolated from a mixture

also : the resulting state

2

: dislocation see shoulder separation

Legal Definition

separation

noun

sep·​a·​ra·​tion ˌse-pə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: cessation of cohabitation between a married couple by mutual agreement with intent that it be permanent

also : legal separation compare divorce

Note: In some cases in which the estrangement is extreme, a separation is considered to have occurred even when the couple retain the same residence if they have stopped communicating and engaging in sexual relations and intend to be separated.

2

: termination of a contractual relationship (as employment or military service)