divorce

The legal dissolution of a marriage.

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

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."

That which separates.

To legally dissolve a marriage between two people.

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

To end one's own marriage to (a person) in this way.

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

To obtain a legal divorce.

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