Definitions for divorce
dɪˈvɔrs, -ˈvoʊrsdi·vorce

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

1. divorce, divorcementverb

   the legal dissolution of a marriage

2. disassociate, dissociate, divorce, disunite, disjointverb

   part; cease or break association with

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

3. divorce, split upverb

   get a divorce; formally terminate a marriage

   "The couple divorced after only 6 months"

Wiktionary(4.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. divorcenoun

   The legal dissolution of a marriage.

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

2. divorcenoun

   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.

3. divorceverb

   To legally dissolve a marriage between two people.

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

4. divorceverb

   To end one's own marriage in this way.

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

5. divorceverb

   To separate something that was connected.

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

6. divorceverb

   To obtain a legal divorce.

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

7. divorcénoun

   A divorced man.

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

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

1. Divorcenoun

   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

2. Divorcenoun

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

3. Divorcenoun

   the decree or writing by which marriage is dissolved

4. Divorcenoun

   separation; disunion of things closely united

5. Divorcenoun

   that which separates

6. Divorcenoun

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

7. Divorcenoun

   to separate or disunite; to sunder

8. Divorcenoun

   to make away; to put away

9. 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.

Matched Categories

1. • Separate

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

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

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. David Duchovny:

   He's a guy, at the age that he is, without a job, he's gone through [what's akin to] a divorce, or at least a separation. It doesn't have to do with the nonfulfillment of the [2012 alien] prophecy. I think he's got more human things that are depressing him. And I'm not agreeing that he may be depressed. I think that's a false diagnosis.

2. Anthony Burgess:

   The aura of the theocratic death penalty for adultery still clings to America, even outside New England, and multiple divorce, which looks to the European like serial polygamy, is the moral solution to the problem of the itch. Love comes into it too, of course, but in Europe we tend to see marital love as an eternity which encompasses hate and also indifference: when we promise to love we really mean that we promise to honor a contract. Americans, seeming to take marriage with not enough seriousness, are really taking love and sex with too much.

3. Kimano M. Edwards:

   The matrimony of morality and laws is the ark of Western civilization. What we are witnessing is the tragic divorce of civility and humanity that results from discord between the two.

4. Randy Kessler:

   California is one of the unique states that lets the parties get a divorce without resolving all of the other issues, georgia and most other states require parties to resolve everything -- custody, child support, property division -- before they will grant them a divorce because that motivates people to finish off the negotiations so they can get a divorce.

5. Mwanandeke Kindembo:

   When the give-and-take loop is interrupted for so long, one cannot expect that link to stay attached. This will result in separation or even divorce in the marriage.

Popularity rank by frequency of use