/ dɪˈvaɪsɪv; NAmE / adjective
( disapproving ) causing people to be split into groups that disagree with or oppose each other :
He believes that unemployment is socially divisive.
—see also divide
► div·isive·ly adverb
► div·isive·ness noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (as a noun denoting something that divides or separates): from late Latin divisivus , from Latin dividere force apart, remove.