demarcation
- 01 C1 Advanced
a clear line or border that separates two different areas of land.
the act of marking off a physical boundary or the limit itself, often established by political or military agreement.
Simple“The river serves as a natural demarcation between the two countries.”
In context“Following the ceasefire, both nations agreed to a strict demarcation of the border to prevent further territorial disputes.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'between' or 'of'.
- 02 C1 Advanced
a clear difference or limit between two ideas, jobs, or groups.
a strictly defined separation or distinction between different categories, roles, or concepts.
Simple“There is a clear demarcation of responsibilities between the two departments.”
In context“The new policy lacks a sharp demarcation between professional duties and personal time, leading to employee burnout.”
UsageCommonly appears in the phrase 'line of demarcation'.
Synonyms
First recorded c.1752, from Spanish línea de demarcación and/or Portuguese linha de demarcação, the demarcation line laid down by the Pope on May 4, 1493, dividing the New World between Spain and Portugal on a line 100 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands. Both derive from demarcar, from de- + marcar (“to mark”), from Italian marcare, from the same Germanic root as march.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.