secession

[ si-sesh-uhn ]

noun

1. an act or instance of seceding.
2. (often initial capital letter) U.S. History. the withdrawal from the Union of 11 Southern states in the period 1860–61, which brought on the Civil War.
3. (usually initial capital letter) Fine Arts. a style of art in Germany and Austria concurrent with and related to Art Nouveau.

secession

/ sɪˈsɛʃən /

noun

1. the act of seceding
2. often capital the withdrawal in 1860–61 of 11 Southern states from the Union to form the Confederacy, precipitating the American Civil War

secession

1. The withdrawal from the United States of eleven southern states in 1860 and 1861. The seceding states formed a government, the Confederacy , in early 1861. Hostilities against the remaining United States, the Union , began in April 1861 ( see Fort Sumter ), and the Civil War followed.

Derived Forms

• seˈcessionist, nounadjective
• seˈcessional, adjective
• seˈcessionˌism, noun

Other Words From

• se·cession·al adjective
• nonse·cession noun
• nonse·cession·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of secession¹

1525–35; < Latin sēcessiōn- (stem of sēcessiō ) withdrawal, equivalent to sēcess ( us ) (past participle of sēcēdere to secede; cession ) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of secession¹

C17: from Latin sēcessiō a withdrawing, from sēcēdere to secede

Example Sentences

Backed by Russia, Abkhazia fought a war of secession with Georgia in 1992-93, before unilaterally declaring independence.

From BBC

Yet they also concluded that slavery was morally wrong and that a Southern slaveocracy's secession and success would cripple the republic, not to mention their own dignity.

From Salon

The Russian president annexed Crimea and established proxy forces in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region to gin up civil war and secession there.

From Salon

Kaye ultimately became part of the story in his — and his paper’s — efforts to push for Valley secession, culminating in a 2002 citywide vote.

From Los Angeles Times

Beijing also had criticized the vote as a challenge to the security law, which criminalizes secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces to intervene in the city’s affairs as well as terrorism.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• breakaway
• breakup
• separation