divorce

The legal ending of a marriage.

• They got a divorce.
• She asked a lawyer about filing for divorce.
• Their divorce was difficult for the children.

How to use it: a divorce from someone (She wanted a divorce from her husband.)

Similar words: dissolution of marriage

Common phrases: get a divorce, file for divorce, divorce settlement

A separation between things that were connected or should belong together.

• There is a divorce between theory and practice.
• He criticised the divorce of politics from everyday life.
• This divorce between art and society troubles her.

How to use it: a divorce between A and B (There is a divorce between their promises and their actions.); a divorce of A from B (She regretted the divorce of learning from play.)

Similar words: separation, division

Opposites: union

Common phrases: divorce between things, divorce from something

To legally end your marriage to your husband or wife.

• She divorced her husband.
• He wants to divorce his wife.
• Would you divorce someone who lied to you?

How to use it: divorce someone (He divorced his wife last year.)

Common phrases: divorce someone, divorce her husband, divorce his wife

To end your marriage through a legal process.

• They divorced last year.
• My parents decided to divorce.
• After twenty years together, the couple divorced amicably.

Similar words: get divorced

Opposites: marry

Common phrases: decide to divorce, divorce amicably

To separate things that are connected.

• You cannot divorce art from life.
• The report divorced these events from their historical context.
• She tried to divorce herself from party politics.

How to use it: divorce A from B (We cannot divorce this problem from the wider situation.); divorce oneself from something (He divorced himself from the organisation.)

Similar words: separate, detach

Opposites: connect, unite

Common phrases: divorce from something, divorce the two

To legally end the marriage of two people.

• The court can divorce the couple.
• The judge divorced them after reviewing the papers.
• Only a court has the authority to divorce them here.

Similar words: dissolve a marriage

Common phrases: divorce a couple, power to divorce