secession
gb/sɪsˈɛʃən/ us/sɪsˈɛʃən/
C1
English
elszakadás, a déli államok elszakadása
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
1
elszakadás
B2
Usage pattern:
secession from [a country/union/organization]; [region]'s secession; the secession of [a state/region]
The region's leaders called for secession after years of disputes with the central government.
A régió vezetői a központi kormánnyal folytatott évekig tartó viták után elszakadást követeltek.
The constitution does not clearly allow secession from the federation.
Az alkotmány nem teszi egyértelműen lehetővé a föderációból való elszakadást.
A peaceful secession would require negotiations over borders, debt, and citizenship.
Learner examples
The island voted for secession from the country.
A sziget az országtól való elszakadásra szavazott.
Secession means leaving a larger political group.
Az elszakadás azt jelenti, hogy valaki kilép egy nagyobb politikai egységből.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse secession with succession, which means following in order or inheriting a position, or with cession, which means giving up territory.
Meaning
Formal withdrawal from a union
Collocations
secession movement
|secession referendum
|secession vote
|secession bid
|secession attempt
|secession crisis
|unilateral secession
|peaceful secession
|legal secession
|secession from the union
Synonyms
withdrawal (broader; can refer to leaving many kinds of groups or situations)
|
separation (broader and less formally political)
|
breakaway (more journalistic or informal, emphasizing splitting off)
|
independence (often names the desired result rather than the act of leaving)
Antonyms
union (the state of being joined as one political unit)
|
unification (the act or process of becoming one unit rather than separating)
|
accession (formal joining of a union or agreement rather than leaving it)
Themes
politics
|government
|law
|international_relations
Definition
the act of a region or group officially leaving a country, union, or organization
The formal act or process by which a state, region, or group withdraws from a larger political union or organization, especially in order to become independent.
NOUN
C2
2
Usage pattern:
the Secession; Southern secession; the secession of the Southern states
Southern secession began after Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860.
A déli államok elszakadása Abraham Lincoln 1860-as megválasztása után kezdődött.
In U.S. history classes, students study the causes of Southern secession.
Az amerikai történelemórákon a diákok a déli államok elszakadásának okait tanulják.
The museum exhibit explains how secession led to the American Civil War.
Learner examples
Southern secession led to the Civil War.
A déli államok elszakadása a polgárháborúhoz vezetett.
Common mistake:
This historical use is often capitalized and refers to a specific event, not every modern independence movement.
Meaning
Southern states leaving the Union
Collocations
Southern secession
|the Secession
|the secession crisis
|secession winter
|secession conventions
|secession ordinances
|Confederate secession
|the secession of the Southern states
Synonyms
Southern secession (more explicit historical phrasing)
|
Confederate breakaway (descriptive and less standard as a historical term)
Antonyms
Unionism (support for remaining in the United States)
|
preservation of the Union (the opposing political goal during the Civil War era)
Themes
history
|us_history
|politics
Definition
the historical event when Southern states left the United States before the American Civil War
The withdrawal of eleven Southern states from the United States in 1860-61, which led to the American Civil War.
Grammar
Dictionary form
secession
IPA
GB/sɪsˈɛʃən/
US/sɪsˈɛʃən/
Syllables & stress
se - ces - sion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ces)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: secession
- Plural: secession, secessions
Expressions
right of secession
1/ɹˈaɪt əv sɪsˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
legal
Claimed right to withdraw
the claimed right of a place or group to leave a country or union
Examples
- The party argues that the constitution protects a right of secession.
- International law rarely recognizes a broad right of secession.
- The court did not accept the province's claimed right of secession.
Learner examples
- They argued for a right of secession.
secession bid
1/sɪsˈɛʃən bˈɪd/
fixed phrase
Attempt to secede
an attempt to leave a country or union
Examples
- The province's secession bid failed after voters rejected independence.
- The government offered more autonomy to weaken the secession bid.
- Opposition parties described the secession bid as illegal.
Learner examples
- The secession bid did not succeed.
secession movement
1/sɪsˈɛʃən mˈuvmənt/
fixed phrase
Campaign to break away
a political campaign that wants a region or group to leave a larger country or union
Examples
- The island's secession movement gained support after the tax dispute.
- Several parties joined the secession movement before the regional election.
- The government opened talks with leaders of the secession movement.
Learner examples
- A small secession movement wants independence for the region.
secession referendum
1/sɪsˈɛʃən ɹˌɛfɚˈɛndəm/
fixed phrase
Vote on leaving a union
a vote on whether a place should leave a country or union
Examples
- The regional government scheduled a secession referendum for October.
- Courts ruled that the secession referendum could not be held without national approval.
- Voters narrowly rejected the secession referendum.
Learner examples
- The province held a secession referendum.
- People voted no in the secession referendum.
unilateral secession
1/jˌunəlˈætɚəl sɪsˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
legal
Withdrawal without outside consent
leaving a country or union without agreement from the other side
Examples
- The court considered whether unilateral secession was legal.
- Leaders abandoned plans for unilateral secession after negotiations began.
- The constitution sets strict limits on unilateral secession.
Learner examples
- Unilateral secession means leaving without the country's agreement.
war of secession
1/wˈɔɹ əv sɪsˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
Name for Civil War
another, less common name for the American Civil War
Examples
- Some older history books call the American Civil War the War of Secession.
- In that museum label, War of Secession refers to the conflict between the Union and the Confederacy.
- The term War of Secession emphasizes the Southern states' break from the Union.
Learner examples
- War of Secession can mean the American Civil War.