Word
dissociation
Phoneticsdis·so·ci·a·tion
/dɪˌsoʊsiˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01psychological detachment
n. a mental process where a person feels disconnected from their thoughts, feelings, or surroundings, often to cope with trauma.
n. a psychological defence mechanism involving a disruption in the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, identity, or perception.
“After the accident, he experienced a sense of dissociation and felt like he was watching his life from far away.”
“Clinical dissociation often manifests as a protective response to overwhelming trauma, allowing the individual to distance the conscious mind from unbearable emotional distress.”
Technical
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'from'.
Teaching tip
In modern casual conversation, people sometimes use this to mean 'zoning out', but in a C1 context, it usually refers to a serious psychological state.
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Antonyms
02chemical breakdown
n. the process where a chemical compound breaks down into smaller parts, like atoms or ions.
n. the reversible decomposition of a chemical compound into simpler constituents, such as molecules, atoms, or ions.
“The dissociation of salt in water allows the liquid to conduct electricity.”
“The degree of electrolytic dissociation depends heavily on the concentration of the solute and the temperature of the solvent.”
Technical
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the general process; countable when referring to specific instances.
Teaching tip
This is a highly specialized sense; students only need it for academic or scientific writing.
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Antonyms
03general separation
n. the act of separating two things that were previously connected.
n. the act of severing the association between two entities or the state of being disconnected.
“There was a complete dissociation between the company's public image and its actual business practices.”
“The author argues for a total dissociation of art from political propaganda, suggesting that creative works should be judged on aesthetic merit alone.”
Academic · Formal
Usage
Usually followed by the preposition 'between' or 'of'.
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“In a near-perennial state of dissociation, she imagines herself transformed by trauma into something less than fully human.” Etymology
Borrowed from French dissociation, from Latin dissociātiō(n).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/dissociation