divorce
gb/dɪvˈɔɹs/ us/dɪvˈɔɹs/
B1
English
~ 4900
válás, házasság felbontása, elválik, elszakadás, különválás, szakadék
NOUN
B1
1
válás
B1
Usage pattern:
to get a divorce from [someone]
They decided to get a divorce after ten years of marriage.
Úgy döntöttek, hogy tíz év házasság után elválnak.
The divorce was finalized last month.
A válásuk múlt hónapban vált véglegessé.
Divorce rates have been rising in recent years.
She hired a lawyer to help with the divorce process.
Learner examples
My parents got a divorce last year.
A szüleim tavaly elváltak.
They want a divorce.
El akarnak válni.
He went to court for the divorce.
The divorce took six months.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'divorce' (the event or process) with 'separation' (living apart but still legally married).
Meaning
legal dissolution of marriage
Collocations
file for divorce
|get a divorce
|divorce settlement
|divorce lawyer
|divorce court
Synonyms
dissolution (More formal and legalistic; often used in official documents.)
Antonyms
marriage (The opposite state, being legally joined as a married couple.)
Themes
law
|family
|relationships
Definition
The legal process that ends a marriage.
The official and legal process by which a marriage is formally ended by a court or other authority.
VERB
B1
2
elválik
B1
Usage pattern:
to divorce [someone]
They divorced last year after many arguments.
Sok veszekedés után tavaly elváltak.
She plans to divorce him next month.
Azt tervezi, hogy jövő hónapban elválik tőle.
He divorced his wife after twenty years of marriage.
Learner examples
I want to divorce my husband.
El akarok válni a férjemtől.
She will divorce her husband soon.
Hamarosan elválik a férjétől.
They divorced in 2020.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'divorce with' instead of correct forms like 'divorce someone' or 'get divorced from someone'.
Meaning
legally end a marriage
Collocations
divorce her husband
|divorce his wife
|decide to divorce
|plan to divorce
Synonyms
separate (Less formal; can mean living apart without legal action.)
Antonyms
marry (To enter into a legal marriage, the opposite action.)
Themes
law
|family
|relationships
Definition
To legally stop being married to someone.
To officially and legally end a marriage with one's spouse through a court or other authority.
NOUN
C1
3
There is often a divorce between politics and public opinion.
Gyakran nagy szakadék tátong a politika és a közvélemény között.
The book discusses the divorce between art and morality.
A könyv a művészet és az erkölcs különválását tárgyalja.
His actions show a complete divorce from reality.
Learner examples
There is a divorce between words and actions.
Szakadék van a szavak és a tettek között.
This idea has a divorce from reality.
Ez az elképzelés elszakadt a valóságtól.
We see a divorce between theory and practice.
Common mistake:
Learners may not recognize this figurative sense and think it always refers to marriage.
Meaning
total separation between things
Collocations
a divorce between theory and practice
|a divorce from reality
Synonyms
separation (General term for things being apart; not necessarily legal.)
Antonyms
connection (The state of being linked or joined together.)
Themes
relationships
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A total split or separation between two things.
A complete and clear separation between two things, often used figuratively outside of marriage contexts.
Grammar
Dictionary form
divorce
IPA
GB/dɪvˈɔɹs/
US/dɪvˈɔɹs/
Syllables & stress
di - vorce (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (vorce)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: divorce
- Plural: divorce, divorces
Verb
- Base: divorce
- 3rd Person Singular: divorces
- Present Participle: divorcing
- Past: divorced
Word family
Forms
divorces
noun
divorcing
verb
divorced
verb
Related words
divorcee
noun
Expressions
divorce settlement
1/dɪvˈɔɹs sˈɛtəlmənt/
fixed phrase
agreement after marriage ends
A legal agreement about money and property after a marriage ends.
Examples
- The divorce settlement included child support payments.
- They reached a fair divorce settlement.
divorced from reality
1/dɪvˈɔɹst fɹˈʌm ɹiˈæləti/
idiom
out of touch with reality
Not connected to what is real or true.
Examples
- His ideas are completely divorced from reality.
- The plan seems divorced from reality.
get a divorce
1/ɡˈɛt ə dɪvˈɔɹs/
fixed phrase
legally end a marriage
To finish the legal steps needed to end a marriage.
Examples
- They decided to get a divorce after years of problems.
- She got a divorce last summer.
no-fault divorce
1/nˈoʊ fˈɔlt dɪvˈɔɹs/
fixed phrase
marriage end without blame proof
A type of divorce where no one has to prove the other did something wrong.
Examples
- They applied for a no-fault divorce.
- No-fault divorce is allowed in many countries.
file for divorce
1/fˈaɪl fɚ dɪvˈɔɹs/
fixed phrase
Officially start legal process to end marriage
To give legal papers to end your marriage to your husband or wife.
Examples
- After years of problems, they decided to file for divorce.
- He filed for divorce in January.
- She filed for divorce last month.
- They filed for divorce after living apart for two years.