dissolution

[ dis-uh-loo-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of resolving or dissolving into parts or elements.
2. the resulting state.
3. the undoing or breaking of a bond, tie, union, partnership, etc.
4. the breaking up of an assembly or organization; dismissal; dispersal.
5. Government. an order issued by the head of a state terminating a parliament and necessitating a new election.
6. death; decease.
7. a bringing or coming to an end; disintegration; decay; termination.
8. legal termination, especially of business activity, with the final distribution of assets, the fixing of liabilities, etc.
9. Chemistry. the process by which a solid, gas, or liquid is dispersed homogeneously in a gas, solid, or, especially, a liquid.

dissolution

/ ˌdɪsəˈluːʃən /

noun

1. the resolution or separation into component parts; disintegration
2. destruction by breaking up and dispersing
3. the termination of a meeting or assembly, such as Parliament
4. the termination of a formal or legal relationship, such as a business enterprise, marriage, etc
5. the state of being dissolute; dissipation
6. the act or process of dissolving

dissolution

/ dĭs′ə-lo̅o̅′shən /

1. The dissolving of a material in a liquid.

Derived Forms

• ˈdissoˌlutive, adjective

Other Words From

• disso·lutive adverb
• nondis·so·lution noun
• predis·so·lution noun
• prodis·so·lution adjective
• redis·so·lution noun
• self-disso·lution noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dissolution¹

1350–1400; Middle English dissolucioun (< Anglo-French ) < Latin dissolūtiōn- (stem of dissolūtiō ). See dis- ¹, solution

Example Sentences

Kennedy named FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, which oversees food safety, as a key target for dissolution.

From Science Magazine

"It is my intention to seek the dissolution of the Dáil on Friday, and I hope we have polling day on 29 November," Harris said, before saying "there you go, clarity".

From BBC

Those allegations, running into the millions of dollars, has led to the dissolution of powerful factions.

From BBC

Those allegations - running into the millions of dollars - led to the dissolution of powerful factions, the backbone of its internal party politics.

From BBC

The dissolution of the “happily ever after” fantasy and the realization that the person who says they love you is hurting you can be the toughest part.

From Salon

Related Words

• adjournment
• demise
• disbandment
• overthrow
• suspension
• termination

More About Dissolution

What does dissolution mean?

Dissolution generally refers to the process of dissolving or breaking apart.

Dissolution is the noun form of the verb dissolve, which most commonly means to mix into and melt within a liquid but has several other meanings, including to break apart. Dissolution also has several other meanings, including specific ones in contexts such as chemistry, law, and law.

When it refers to the process of breaking apart, dissolution commonly applies to things like formal relationships (such as marriage) and organizations (such as a parliament).

Example: The dissolution of the company left many people out of work.

Where does dissolution come from?

The first records of dissolution come from the 1300s. It ultimately derives from the Latin verb solvere, meaning “to loosen” or “to release.”

When you pour salt in water, it dissolves, forming a solution—a uniform mixture of a solid and a liquid. In chemistry, the process by which this happens is called dissolution. It might seem like dissolution would be the opposite of solution, but in this case the prefix dis- is used to mean “apart,” emphasizing the idea that a solution is formed when the elements of something (salt) come apart to be fully mixed with something else (water).

In formal legal terms, a divorce is sometimes referred to as a dissolution of marriage. It legally dissolves (breaks apart) the marriage, making it so that two people involved are no longer legally married. Dissolution is also used in the context of companies that go out of business and have their assets dissolved (sold off to pay debts). In terms of government, dissolution happens when a head of state dissolves the existing parliament, requiring a new election.

Dissolution doesn’t always have to be official. It can be used in a general way to refer to destruction or disintegration or the process of ending, undoing, or breaking up. Less commonly, it can even mean “death.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to dissolution?

• dissolve (verb)
• dissolutive (adjective)

What are some synonyms for dissolution?

• dissolving
• disintegration 
• breakup
• dismissal
• dispersal

What are some words that share a root or word element with dissolution? 

 

• dissolute 
• solution
• solvent

What are some words that often get used in discussing dissolution?

 

• marriage
• parliament
• relationship
• government
• society
• agreement

What are some words dissolution may be commonly confused with?

 

• disillusion

 

How is dissolution used in real life?

Dissolution can be used generally, but it is most often used in technical contexts, especially chemistry, law, and business.

Putting sugar into my iced tea and thinking about how stirring affects the rate of dissolution and then crying cuz chemistry exam

— BridgetNeuge (@BridgetNeuge) May 31, 2014

Today is the day the Dissolution of Parliament would have taken place if the 2015-20 Parliament had run to term.

— Jack Evans (@jackcevans) March 30, 2020

In an effort to bring calm to my world, I'm teaching my husband about the five mother sauces of France.
He replied that my mother was not French, she is just Floridian, and I am looking at e-filing dissolution of marriage documents after this tweet.

— Sarah Harper (@SarahJinx12) March 17, 2020

 

 

Try using dissolution!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of dissolution? 

A. dispersal
B. disintegration
C. addition
D. fragmentation