secede
Secede (verb) means to formally withdraw from a country, federation, alliance or other organisation, ending membership of it. Example: “Eleven southern states voted to secede from the Union.”
How to Use Secede
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo formally leave a country or group you belonged to.
Formal, mostly political, historical and legal writing.
Secede is nearly always followed by from: secede from a country, a church, a federation.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Eleven southern states voted to _____ from the Union.
Etymology
From Latin secedere 'to withdraw, go apart', from se- 'apart' and cedere 'to go'.
Related Words
Rhymes for secede
See all rhymes for secede →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between secede and succeed?
They sound similar but are unrelated. To secede is to break away from a larger body, as a state might from a union. To succeed is to achieve what you set out to do, or to come after someone in a role.
What is the difference between secede and seceded from versus secession?
Secede is the verb and secession is the noun for the act itself. A state secedes; the event is its secession. A person or group that supports it is a secessionist.
Can a US state legally secede?
No. In Texas v. White (1869) the Supreme Court held that the union of the states is perpetual and that unilateral secession has no legal effect. Any lawful departure would require the consent of the other states.