secession: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Historical, Political
Quick answer
What does “secession” mean?
The formal withdrawal of a group (especially a region or state) from a larger political entity, such as a nation, federation, or union.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The formal withdrawal of a group (especially a region or state) from a larger political entity, such as a nation, federation, or union.
The act of breaking away or separating from an organization, association, or established norm; can be used metaphorically in non-political contexts (e.g., art, philosophy).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood identically, but its historical and cultural resonance differs vastly. In the US, it is inextricably linked to the Civil War (1861-1865). In the UK/Commonwealth, it is a more general political/legal term.
Connotations
US: Highly charged, evokes the Civil War, slavery, and national trauma. UK/International: More neutral, referring to any regional separation movement (e.g., Scottish independence, Catalan secession).
Frequency
Higher frequency in US historical/political discourse. In UK/global discourse, frequency spikes during discussions of regional independence movements.
Grammar
How to Use “secession” in a Sentence
secession from [entity]secession of [region] from [entity]the secession of [region]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “secession” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The region voted to secede from the federation.
- Several member states are threatening to secede.
American English
- The Southern states moved to secede from the Union in 1860-61.
- A clause in the treaty allows a province to secede under certain conditions.
adverb
British English
- [No direct adverb form. Use 'secessionistically' is non-standard/rare.]
American English
- [No direct adverb form. Use 'secessionistically' is non-standard/rare.]
adjective
British English
- The secessionist movement gained momentum after the referendum.
- They debated secessionist tendencies within the EU.
American English
- The secessionist states formed a new confederacy.
- Historical accounts analyze secessionist rhetoric.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could metaphorically describe a division or subsidiary spinning off from a parent company.
Academic
Common in political science, history, and law. Discussed in terms of self-determination, international law, and constitutional theory.
Everyday
Low frequency. Used when discussing major news events about regional independence or historical topics.
Technical
In law, refers to a constitutional or international legal process. In art history, refers to the Vienna Secession movement.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “secession”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “secession”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “secession”
- Misspelling as 'sucession' or 'secesion'.
- Confusing with 'succession'.
- Using it for informal splits (e.g., 'the secession of our football team from the league' is too strong).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Independence is the broader state of self-governance. Secession specifically refers to the *act* of withdrawing from an existing state to achieve independence.
Yes, but it's less common. It can be used metaphorically, e.g., 'the artist's secession from the traditional school' (referencing art movements like the Vienna Secession).
The verb is 'to secede'. Example: 'The region decided to secede.'
It depends on the country's constitution and international law. Most national constitutions (like the US's) do not grant a legal right to secede. It is often considered a revolutionary or extra-legal act.
The formal withdrawal of a group (especially a region or state) from a larger political entity, such as a nation, federation, or union.
Secession is usually formal, academic, historical, political in register.
Secession: in British English it is pronounced /sɪˈsɛʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /səˈsɛʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this noun. The concept is the idiom itself.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SECEDE' + 'SESSION'. A group holds a formal SESSION to decide to SECEDE.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIVORCE (a messy, legal separation from a union), AMPUTATION (a traumatic removal of a part from the whole).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'secession' most historically charged for American speakers?