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)
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 Falcon 9 second stage rocketed onward for another 7.5 minutes following first-stage separation, releasing Endurance and her crew into low Earth orbit on a trajectory to catch up to the ISS within about 28 hours.
—
Josh Dinner, Space.com, 14 Mar. 2025
This could be any big life change, like a move, loss of a family member or pet, a separation or divorce, or a big change at school.
—Miranda Rake, Parents, 14 Mar. 2025
Since their separation, Vanessa and Trump Jr. have maintained a cordial relationship, with both prioritizing co-parenting their five children.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
This family separation policy included stripping incoming students of nearly every aspect of their identity.
—Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for separation
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Josh Dinner, Space.com, 14 Mar. 2025
This could be any big life change, like a move, loss of a family member or pet, a separation or divorce, or a big change at school.
—Miranda Rake, Parents, 14 Mar. 2025
Since their separation, Vanessa and Trump Jr. have maintained a cordial relationship, with both prioritizing co-parenting their five children.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
This family separation policy included stripping incoming students of nearly every aspect of their identity.
—Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for separation
Cite this Entry
“Separation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/separation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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)
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