English Reference

Word

division

Phoneticsdi·vi·sion, stress on the second syllable

US/dɪˈvɪʒən/

UK/dɪvˈɪʒən/

Definitions

01splitting into parts

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. the act of separating something into two or more parts.

n. the act or process of partitioning a whole into constituent parts.

“The division of the huge cake into small slices took a long time.”

“The rapid division of cells is a fundamental process in the growth of all living organisms.”

02mathematics

A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun Mathematics

n. the process of finding out how many times one number fits into another.

n. the mathematical operation of determining how many times one quantity is contained within another.

“The teacher showed the children how to do long division on the blackboard.”

“Advanced calculus often requires a firm grasp of basic arithmetic operations, including long division and multiplication.”

Antonyms

03company department

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a large section or department of a big company.

n. a major administrative or operational unit within a large business or governmental organization.

“She works in the sales division of a multinational software company.”

“The corporation decided to spin off its overseas division into an independent entity to improve financial transparency.”

04disagreement

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a situation where people disagree strongly about something.

n. a significant difference of opinion or a lack of agreement between groups, often leading to conflict.

“There is a deep division in the town about the new road project.”

“The proposed policy created a sharp division within the cabinet, with several ministers threatening to resign in protest.”

05military unit

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun military

n. a large group of soldiers that forms part of an army.

n. a large military unit, typically consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers, commanded by a major general.

“The armored division moved toward the border during the night.”

“The general ordered the infantry division to hold the ridge until reinforcements could arrive from the north.”

Synonyms

06sports league level

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Sports

n. a group of teams that play against each other in a league.

n. a group of teams or athletes competing at a similar level within a professional sports league.

“Our local team was promoted to the first division after a great season.”

“The club struggled to remain competitive after being promoted to the top division, eventually facing relegation the following year.”

07biological classification

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun botany Technical

n. a way to group plants or fungi that are similar.

n. a taxonomic rank in botany and mycology, equivalent to phylum in zoology, used to group related classes.

“In biology class, we learned that conifers belong to a specific division of plants.”

“The researcher identified a new species that did not fit into any existing division of the fungal kingdom.”

Synonyms

phylumtaxon

08voting method

C1 · Advanced Countable noun government Formal · British English

n. a way of voting in parliament where people walk into different rooms to show their choice.

n. a formal method of voting in a legislative body where members physically separate into groups to be counted.

“The speaker of the house called for a division to settle the close vote.”

“When the voice vote proved inconclusive, the opposition demanded a formal division to record each member's stance on the bill.”

Synonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “division” in context.

Verb

01. bridge the division

“The new leader is trying to bridge the division between the two political factions.”

verb + noun

02. create a division

“The unfair distribution of resources created a division among the staff members.”

verb + noun

03. head a division

“She was promoted to head the marketing division after her successful campaign.”

verb + noun

Adjective

04. deep division

“There is a deep division within the community regarding the new housing project.”

adj + noun

05. equal division

“The will ensured an equal division of the property among the three children.”

adj + noun

Noun

06. division of labor

“A clear division of labor is essential for the project to be completed on time.”

noun + of + noun

07. division of wealth

“Economists are studying the unequal division of wealth in developing nations.”

noun + of + noun

Preposition

08. in the division

“He has worked in the sales division for over ten years.”

prep + noun

Real-World Examples

“Three years later, Mattel sold its sports division to Wham-O, a toy company founded in 1948.”
Smithsonian Magazine 12 Aug 2026
“Ant colonies have a strict division of labor that depends heavily on age.”
ScienceDaily 1 Aug 2026
“The teenager won’t even remember the last time Racing were in the first division: he was five.”
The Guardian 17 Aug 2026
“Emersonn comes in in the for decent money from French side Toulouse, can he keep Ipswich in the division?”
The Guardian 17 Aug 2026

Word family

Related words

Domains

BotanyComputingGovernmentLawMilitaryMusicZoology

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Very common
Level
B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
Updated

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