Definitions for divorce
dɪˈvɔrs, -ˈvoʊrsdi·vorce

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. divorce, divorcement(verb)

   the legal dissolution of a marriage

2. disassociate, dissociate, divorce, disunite, disjoint(verb)

   part; cease or break association with

   "She disassociated herself from the organization when she found out the identity of the president"

3. divorce, split up(verb)

   get a divorce; formally terminate a marriage

   "The couple divorced after only 6 months"

Wiktionary(4.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. divorce(Noun)

   The legal dissolution of a marriage.

   Richard obtained a divorce from his wife some years ago, but hasn't returned to the dating scene.

   Etymology: From divorce, from divortium, from divertere, from di- + vertere; see verse.

2. divorce(Noun)

   A separation of connected things.

   The Civil War split between Virginia and West Virginia was a divorce based along cultural and economic, as well as geographic, lines.

   Etymology: From divorce, from divortium, from divertere, from di- + vertere; see verse.

3. divorce(Verb)

   To legally dissolve a marriage between two people.

   A ship captain can marry couples, but cannot divorce them.

   Etymology: From divorce, from divortium, from divertere, from di- + vertere; see verse.

4. divorce(Verb)

   To end one's own marriage in this way.

   Lucy divorced Steve when she discovered that he had been unfaithful.

   Etymology: From divorce, from divortium, from divertere, from di- + vertere; see verse.

5. divorce(Verb)

   To separate something that was connected.

   The radical group voted to divorce itself from the main faction and start an independent movement.

   Etymology: From divorce, from divortium, from divertere, from di- + vertere; see verse.

6. divorce(Verb)

   To obtain a legal divorce.

   Edna and Simon divorced last year; he got the house, and she retained the business.

   Etymology: From divorce, from divortium, from divertere, from di- + vertere; see verse.

7. divorcé(Noun)

   A divorced man.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Divorce(noun)

   a legal dissolution of the marriage contract by a court or other body having competent authority. This is properly a divorce, and called, technically, divorce a vinculo matrimonii

   Etymology: [F. divorce, L. divortium, fr. divortere, divertere, to turn different ways, to separate. See Divert.]

2. Divorce(noun)

   the separation of a married woman from the bed and board of her husband -- divorce a mensa et toro (/ thoro), "from bed board."

   Etymology: [F. divorce, L. divortium, fr. divortere, divertere, to turn different ways, to separate. See Divert.]

3. Divorce(noun)

   the decree or writing by which marriage is dissolved

   Etymology: [F. divorce, L. divortium, fr. divortere, divertere, to turn different ways, to separate. See Divert.]

4. Divorce(noun)

   separation; disunion of things closely united

   Etymology: [F. divorce, L. divortium, fr. divortere, divertere, to turn different ways, to separate. See Divert.]

5. Divorce(noun)

   that which separates

   Etymology: [F. divorce, L. divortium, fr. divortere, divertere, to turn different ways, to separate. See Divert.]

6. Divorce(noun)

   to dissolve the marriage contract of, either wholly or partially; to separate by divorce

   Etymology: [F. divorce, L. divortium, fr. divortere, divertere, to turn different ways, to separate. See Divert.]

7. Divorce(noun)

   to separate or disunite; to sunder

   Etymology: [F. divorce, L. divortium, fr. divortere, divertere, to turn different ways, to separate. See Divert.]

8. Divorce(noun)

   to make away; to put away

   Etymology: [F. divorce, L. divortium, fr. divortere, divertere, to turn different ways, to separate. See Divert.]

Freebase(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Divorce

   Divorce is the termination of a marital union, the canceling of the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and the dissolving of the bonds of matrimony between a married couple. Divorce is unlike annulment which declares the marriage null and void. Divorce laws vary considerably around the world, but in most countries it requires the sanction of a court or other authority in a legal process. The legal process of divorce may also involve issues of alimony, child custody, child support, distribution of property, and division of debt. In most countries monogamy is required by law, so divorce allows each former partner to marry another; where polygyny is legal but polyandry is not, divorce allows the woman to marry a new husband. Divorce can be a stressful experience affecting finances, living arrangements, household jobs, schedules and more. If the family includes children, they may be deeply affected. The only countries which do not allow divorce are the Philippines and the Vatican City, an ecclesiastical state, which has no procedure for divorce. Countries that have relatively recently allowed divorce are Italy, Portugal, Spain, Ireland and Malta.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Divorce

   di-vors′, n. the legal separation of husband and wife: the sentence by which a marriage is dissolved.—v.t. to separate: to sunder: to dissolve the marriage-contract of: to put away.—adj. Divorce′able.—ns. Divorcee′, a divorced person; Divorce′ment (B.), divorce; Divor′cer.—adj. Divor′cive, having power to divorce. [Fr.,—L. divortium—divortĕre, another form of divertĕre. See Divert.]

The Roycroft Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. divorce

   1. A legal separation of two persons of the opposite sex who desire to respect and honor each other. 2. A marital derail.

U.S. National Library of Medicine(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Divorce

   Legal dissolution of an officially recognized marriage relationship.

The Foolish Dictionary, by Gideon Wurdz(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. DIVORCE

   Nominally, separation of husband and wife from the bonds of matrimony. In the vicinity of Newport it is frequently a legal formula that immediately precedes a fashionable wedding.

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'divorce' in Nouns Frequency: #2027

2. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'divorce' in Verbs Frequency: #1040

How to pronounce divorce?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say divorce in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of divorce in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of divorce in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of divorce in a Sentence

1. Anuj Somany:

   Heaven gives mysteriously protection to a worthy man by keeping him often away from women even through breakup, divorce or separation

2. Clare Boothe Luce:

   You know, that's the only good thing about divorce; you get to sleep with your mother.

3. Lauren Bacall:

   In Hollywood, an equitable divorce settlement means each party getting fifty percent of publicity.

4. Tab Lagow:

   It was a total rust bucket, i bought all new sheet metal and I was half-way—or maybe three-quarters of the way—through the sheet metal welding when I went through a divorce, and I had to sell it.

5. Charles Caleb Colton:

   In America every woman has her set of girl-friends some are cousins, the rest are gained at school. These form a permanent committee who sit on each other's affairs, who 'come out' together, marry and divorce together, and who end as those groups of bustling, heartless well-informed club-women who govern society. Against them the Couple of Ehepaar is helpless and Man in their eyes but a biological interlude.

Images & Illustrations of divorce

Popularity rank by frequency of use