divorce
5 synonyms and 2 antonyms for divorce, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The legal ending of a marriage.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use divorce
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French divorce, from Latin dīvortium, from dīvertere, "to turn aside" — related to divert and verse.
Full origin of divorce →Frequently asked questions
What does “divorce” mean?
The word “divorce” means the legal ending of a marriage. In plain terms, ending a marriage legally, or more broadly, separating two things that used to go together.
How do you pronounce “divorce”?
“Divorce” is pronounced dih-VAWS (/dɪˈvoɹs/ in IPA).
How do you use “divorce” in a sentence?
Here is “divorce” used in a sentence: “Their divorce was finalised after months of negotiation.”
What is the opposite of “divorce”?
The opposite of “divorce” — its antonyms — are marriage and marry.
What part of speech is “divorce”?
Depending on how it is used, “divorce” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “divorce” come from?
The word “divorce” comes from Latin. From Old French divorce, from Latin dīvortium, from dīvertere, "to turn aside" — related to divert and verse.
Is “divorce” a common word?
“Divorce” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “divorce” have?
“Divorce” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the legal ending of a marriage.
What is the difference between divorce and separation?
A divorce legally ends a marriage, leaving both people free to remarry. A separation means the couple live apart, and even a formal legal separation leaves the marriage legally intact.
What is the difference between divorce and annulment?
A divorce ends a valid marriage, while an annulment declares that the marriage was never legally valid in the first place. After a divorce, the marriage existed and then ended; after an annulment, it is treated as if it never legally happened.
Is it "divorced from" or "divorced with"?
The correct preposition is "from": you get divorced from someone, as in "she is divorced from her first husband." As a verb, "divorce" also takes a direct object with no preposition, as in "he divorced her." "Divorced with" is not standard.