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divorce

noun (1)
di·​vorce | \ də-ˈvȯrs How to pronounce divorce (audio) also dī-\

Definition of divorce

 (Entry 1 of 3)

1 law : the action or an instance of legally dissolving (see dissolve entry 1 sense 1d) a marriage
2 : separation, severance divorce of the secular and the spiritual

divorce

verb
divorced; divorcing

Definition of divorce (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1 law

a : to legally dissolve one's marriage with : to end marriage with (one's spouse) by divorce (see divorce entry 1 sense 1) She divorced her husband.
b : to dissolve the marriage contract between They were divorced last year. They are getting divorced.
2 : to make or keep separate : separate divorce church from state media narratives divorced from reality

intransitive verb

law : to obtain a divorce They divorced two years later.

divorcé

noun (2)
di·​vor·​cé | \ də-ˌvȯr-ˈsā How to pronounce divorcé (audio) , -ˈsē How to pronounce divorcé (audio) , -ˈvȯr-ˌsā\

Definition of divorcé (Entry 3 of 3)

: a divorced man
Other Words from divorce Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about divorce

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Other Words from divorce

Verb

divorcement \ də-​ˈvȯr-​smənt How to pronounce divorcement (audio) \ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for divorce

Verb

separate, part, divide, sever, sunder, divorce mean to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed. separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing. separated her personal life from her career part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association. vowed never to part divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking. civil war divided the nation sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member. a severed limb sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart. a city sundered by racial conflict divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together. cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility

Examples of divorce in a Sentence

Noun (1)

 Since getting a divorce, she has been raising her children alone. They went through a lengthy divorce. Their marriage ended in divorce. Financial problems are a leading cause of divorce.

Verb

 After years of unhappiness, she decided to divorce him. They both agreed it was best to divorce. Their constitution divorces church and state.
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First Known Use of divorce

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1877, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for divorce

Noun (1) and Verb

Middle English divorse, from Anglo-French, from Latin divortium, from divertere, divortere to divert, to leave one's husband

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More Definitions for divorce

divorce

noun
How to pronounce divorcé (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of divorce

 (Entry 1 of 3)

: the ending of a marriage by a legal process
formal : a complete separation between two things

divorce

verb

English Language Learners Definition of divorce (Entry 2 of 3)

: to legally end your marriage with (your husband or wife)
formal : to make or keep (something) separate

divorcé

noun

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