1. the action or state of moving or being moved apart
2. the ending of a marriage or romantic relationship without divorce
3. the process of isolating or extracting one substance from a mixture
Usage: scientific; technical

Examples

• The separations between the fence posts were exactly six feet apart.
• Their trial separation lasted three months before they decided to divorce.
• The couple announced their separation after ten years of marriage.
• The laboratory specializes in chemical separations of complex compounds.
• Physical separations of the building’s wings provided fire safety.
• The separations in the data clearly showed two distinct groups.
• Airport security requires separations of liquids from other carry-on items.