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
This separation keeps parents' Discover Weekly and Wrapped playlists clean from unexpected surprises like a sudden obsession with gaming soundtracks or silly meme songs.
—
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
The Today host, who also serves as the co-anchor of the third hour, shared the news of her separation from husband Brian Fichera on July 18 via Instagram.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Use a third-party accounting firm that specializes in nonprofits in order to ensure further separation of responsibilities.
—Violet Ikonomova, Freep.com, 24 Oct. 2025
The County Attorney's Office argues the law unconstitutionally violates the separation of powers and the Victims' Bill of Rights.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for separation
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Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
The Today host, who also serves as the co-anchor of the third hour, shared the news of her separation from husband Brian Fichera on July 18 via Instagram.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Use a third-party accounting firm that specializes in nonprofits in order to ensure further separation of responsibilities.
—Violet Ikonomova, Freep.com, 24 Oct. 2025
The County Attorney's Office argues the law unconstitutionally violates the separation of powers and the Victims' Bill of Rights.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 24 Oct. 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 29 Oct. 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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