detach
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to unfasten and separate; disengage; disunite.
-
Military. to send away (a regiment, ship, etc.) on a special mission.
verb
-
to disengage and separate or remove, as by pulling; unfasten; disconnect
-
military to separate (a small unit) from a larger, esp for a special assignment
Other Word Forms
- detachability noun
- detachable adjective
- detachably adverb
- detacher noun
- nondetachability noun
- nondetachable adjective
- predetach verb (used with object)
- self-detaching adjective
- undetachable adjective
Etymology
Origin of detach
1470–80; < Middle French détacher, Old French destachier; see dis- 1, attach
Explanation
If you separate one thing from another, you are detaching it. As a newborn baby, you became familiar with this concept as soon as your umbilical cord was cut! You can use the word detach to talk about physically pulling two things apart. For example, when your shirt comes back from the dry cleaner missing a few buttons, it’s safe to assume they got detached during the cleaning process. This word is easy to remember when you consider its antonym attach. Once you have attached that election pin to your lapel, you better detach it when your candidate loses!
Vocabulary lists containing detach
de-
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Last year, U.S. regulators recalled more than 46,000 Cybertrucks, warning that the truck’s exterior panels could detach while driving.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026
The committee heard that the problem related to "cavitation" - when bubbles detach from a propellor and pop, causing damaging vibrations.
From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026
The first is to detach with love — that is, politely and kindly, and with no explanations or blame.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 25, 2026
“It plays on manipulation techniques,” said Small, who has now created a guide for others who are trying to understand how large language models work and are trying to detach themselves.
From Slate • Feb. 2, 2026
The cabling was easy to detach, too, just a couple of complicated plugs.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
