What does "separation" mean?
The act of disuniting two or more things, or the condition of being separated.
Separation
/ˌsep.əˈɹæɪ.ʃən/ noun
noun ·Very common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of disuniting two or more things, or the condition of being separated.
- Grammar: separation is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: detachment, division, interval, aberration.
- Useful contrasts: academic relationship, anatomical joint related, chemical lab mixing.
- Usage evidence: Among married couples, there has been an increase in divorce and separation with the result that there are many more one-parent families.
How to use "separation"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "separation" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "separation" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "separation" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "separation" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "separation" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "detachment" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "separation", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of disuniting two or more things, or the condition of being separated. countable, uncountable
- 2 the act of dividing or disconnecting wordnet
- 3 The act or condition of two or more people being separated from one another. countable, uncountable
"We were a band of brothers, and never dearer to each other than now. The thought which gave us the most pain, was the probable separation which would now take place, in case we were sold off to the far south, as we were likely to be."
- 4 the social act of separating or parting company wordnet
- 5 The act or condition of a married couple living in separate homes while remaining legally married. countable, uncountable
"‘If he dares to refuse me a separation, I’ll have one in law—I can—and I hope this will be a warning to all girls who have seen this disgraceful exhibition.’"
Show 12 more definitions
- 6 (law) the cessation of cohabitation of man and wife (either by mutual agreement or under a court order) wordnet
- 7 The act or condition of a married couple living in separate homes while remaining legally married.; An agreement legalizing such an arrangement. countable, uncountable
"I should have gone back to her the day after the fair, if it hadn't been for you talking about the law, and rubbish about getting a separation;"
- 8 sorting one thing from others wordnet
- 9 The place at which a division occurs. countable, uncountable
"I was now on the separation of two vast water-sheds; behind me all the streams were bound for the Garonne and the Western Ocean; before me was the basin of the Rhone."
- 10 the distance between things wordnet
- 11 An interval, gap or space that separates things or people. countable, uncountable
"[…] gentle friend, for love and courtesy Lie further off; in human modesty, Such separation as may well be said Becomes a virtuous bachelor and a maid, So far be distant;"
- 12 the termination of employment (by resignation or dismissal) wordnet
- 13 An object that separates two spaces. countable, uncountable
"[The orchard] was full of trees, it bloomed with flowers: a very high wall shut it out from the court, on one side; on the other, a beech avenue screened it from the lawn. At the bottom was a sunk fence; its sole separation from lonely fields:"
- 14 coming apart wordnet
- 15 Departure from active duty, while not necessarily leaving the service entirely. countable, uncountable
- 16 the space where a division or parting occurs wordnet
- 17 the state of lacking unity wordnet
Antonyms
academic relationshipanatomical joint relatedchemical lab mixingconceptual linkage
Example
"Among married couples, there has been an increase in divorce and separation with the result that there are many more one-parent families."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "separation"?
Common synonyms include: detachment, division, interval, aberration, abscission, abstraction.
How do you use "separation" in a sentence?
Among married couples, there has been an increase in divorce and separation with the result that there are many more one-parent families.
How do you pronounce "separation"?
Pronounced /ˌsep.əˈɹæɪ.ʃən/.
Etymology
Attested in the 15th Century C.E.; from Middle English separacioun, from Old French separacion, from Latin separatio, separationem. Morphologically separate + -ion.