dissociate

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /dɪˈsoʊ.ʃi.eɪt/ UK /dɪˈsəʊ.ʃi.eɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #115812

Meanings

1

verb
to separate or disconnect someone or something from an association, relationship, or idea

The charity moved quickly to dissociate itself from the offensive remarks.
2

verb
psychology: to become mentally detached from one's thoughts, feelings, identity, or surroundings

Under extreme stress, a person may dissociate from the immediate experience.
3

verb
chemistry: to split, or cause a substance to split, reversibly into smaller molecules, atoms, or ions

In water, the acid can dissociate into hydrogen ions and anions.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to separate or disconnect... separate disconnect disassociatedecouple

2 verb · psychology: to become... detach disengage

3 verb · chemistry: to split, or... separate decompose

Opposites

associate connect integrate

Word family

Forms dissociateddissociating

Derived forms dissociationdissociativedissociatorphotodissociateredissociateundissociated

Related forms disassociate association detachment decompose

Etymology

From Latin dissociare ("to separate from fellowship"), built from dis- ("apart") + sociare ("to join or associate"), from socius ("companion, ally"). The chemical and psychological uses specialize the same underlying idea of breaking an association.

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# dissociate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /dɪˈsoʊ.ʃi.eɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /dɪˈsəʊ.ʃi.eɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 115812

## Meanings
1. to separate or disconnect someone or something from an association, relationship, or idea
2. psychology: to become mentally detached from one's thoughts, feelings, identity, or surroundings
3. chemistry: to split, or cause a substance to split, reversibly into smaller molecules, atoms, or ions

## Examples
- The charity moved quickly to dissociate itself from the offensive remarks.
- Under extreme stress, a person may dissociate from the immediate experience.
- In water, the acid can dissociate into hydrogen ions and anions.

## Synonyms
- separate
- disconnect
- disassociate
- decouple
- detach

## Antonyms
- associate
- connect
- integrate

## Derived Forms
- dissociation
- dissociative
- dissociator
- photodissociate
- redissociate
- undissociated

## Related Forms
- disassociate
- association
- detachment
- decompose

## Etymology
From Latin dissociare ("to separate from fellowship"), built from dis- ("apart") + sociare ("to join or associate"), from socius ("companion, ally"). The chemical and psychological uses specialize the same underlying idea of breaking an association.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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