Library / English Dictionary

SEVERANCE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of severing

Synonyms:

severance; severing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("severance" is a kind of...):

cut; cutting (the act of cutting something into parts)

Derivation:

sever (cut off from a whole)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)

Example:

they hoped to avoid a break in relations

Synonyms:

breach; break; falling out; rift; rupture; severance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("severance" is a kind of...):

breakup; detachment; separation (coming apart)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "severance"):

schism (the formal separation of a church into two churches or the withdrawal of one group over doctrinal differences)

Derivation:

sever (set or keep apart)

Credits