View synonyms for divorce

divorce

[ dih-vawrs ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the act of legally ending a marriage: Compare judicial separation ( def ).
After the divorce, they shared custody of the children.
any formal separation of spouses according to established custom.
the act of legally ending a formal contract before its term is up, especially in professional sports:
If there’s a personality clash between the player and the manager, divorce may be the only way out.
It’s a guide to corporate divorce, laying out who pays what to whom at the early termination of a contract.
a total separation between two things; disunion:
Activists denounced the divorce between thought and action when it came to protecting human rights.

verb (used with object)

, di·vorced, di·vorc·ing.

to legally end the marriage contract between oneself and (one's spouse):
She divorced her husband.
to permanently separate (a couple) through a judicial declaration that ends their marriage contract:
The judge divorced the couple.
to separate or cut off:
His view of the situation has become totally divorced from reality.
Synonyms: disjoin, detach, sever, disconnect, divide, dissociate, rupture, disjunction, dissolution, breakup, annulment

verb (used without object)

, di·vorced, di·vorc·ing.

to legally end one’s marriage:
After 16 years together, they divorced.
I never thought about money till I divorced.

divorcé

[ dih-vawr-sey, -vohr-, -vawr-sey, -vohr- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a divorced man.

divorcé

/ dɪˈvɔːseɪ /

noun

a man who has been divorced

divorce

/ dɪˈvɔːs /

noun

the dissolution of a marriage by judgment of a court or by accepted custom
a judicial decree declaring a marriage to be dissolved
a separation, esp one that is total or complete

verb

to separate or be separated by divorce; give or obtain a divorce (to a couple or from one's spouse)
tr to remove or separate, esp completely

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Gender Note

See fiancée.

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Derived Forms

diˈvorcive, adjective
diˈvorceable, adjective
diˈvorcer, noun

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Other Words From

di·vorce·a·ble adjective
di·vorc·er noun
di·vor·cive adjective
non·di·vorced adjective
un·di·vorce·a·ble adjective
un·di·vorced adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of divorce¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin dīvortium “separation,” from dīvort(ere) variant of dīvertere “to turn away” ( divert ) + -ium -ium

Origin of divorce²

First recorded in 1805–15; from French, noun use of masculine past participle of divorcer, from Medieval Latin dīvortiāre “to divorce,” derivative of Latin dīvortium “separation”; divorce

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Word History and Origins

Origin of divorce¹

C14: from Old French, from Latin dīvortium from dīvertere to separate; see divert

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Example Sentences

A golfing habit and a liking for girls are fine for a 51-year-old divorcé.

From The Daily Beast

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