/ ˌsepəˈreɪʃn; NAmE / noun
1.
[ U , sing. ] separation (from sb/sth) | separation (between A and B) the act of separating people or things; the state of being separate :
the state's eventual separation from the federation
the need for a clear separation between Church and State
2.
[ C ] a period of time that people spend apart from each other :
They were reunited after a separation of more than 20 years.
3.
[ C ] a decision that a husband and wife make to live apart while they are still legally married :
a legal separation
—compare divorce
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : via Old French from Latin separatio(n-) , from separare disjoin, divide, from se- apart + parare prepare.