Scission: meaning, definitions and examples

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scission

 

[ ˈsɪʃ.ən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

division, separation

Scission refers to the act of cutting or dividing something into parts. It is commonly used in discussions about organizational structures and political entities to describe a splitting or dividing process.

Synonyms

disunion, division, separation, splitting.

Examples of usage

  • The scission of the company resulted in two independent entities.
  • The political party experienced a scission after the election.
  • Scission can lead to increased competition in the market.

Etymology

The term scission comes from the Latin word 'scissio', meaning 'a cutting', which is derived from 'scindere', meaning 'to cut'. This Latin root has influenced many words in English that pertain to division or separation. The word gained usage in English around the 19th century and has since been employed in various fields, including law, business, and political science, to indicate the process or action of splitting something into parts. Its application can be seen in contexts like corporate breakups, ideological splits in groups, and discussions of individual rights versus collective obligations.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,645, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.