Severance: meaning, definitions and examples

Typically used in a formal business or legal context when discussing the compensation an employee receives when they are let go from a job.

• The company offered him a generous severance package when he was laid off.
• Severance pay is often given to employees who are terminated without cause.

A more neutral or formal term often used in HR contexts to describe the process of an employee leaving a company, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.

• The HR department handled the employee’s separation with utmost professionalism.
• Voluntary separation usually occurs when an employee chooses to resign.

Usually used to indicate an employee being fired, often implying a negative reason such as poor performance or misconduct.

• Her constant tardiness led to her eventual dismissal from the company.
• He faced immediate dismissal after violating company policies.

A formal and often legal term indicating the end of an employee’s job, can refer to both voluntary and involuntary cases.

• The termination of his contract was effective immediately.
• They had a termination meeting to discuss her last working day.

Typically used in formal or professional situations to describe the end of a relationship or connection, particularly in the context of employment. It can also refer to the cutting or breaking of something physical.

• She received a severance package after being laid off.
• The severance of the cable caused the entire system to shut down.

Commonly used to describe the process of dividing something into parts or sections. It can also refer to disagreements or splits within groups.

• There was a clear division of tasks among the team members.
• The political division in the country has never been greater.

Used in a variety of contexts to describe the state of being apart or the process of moving apart. This can relate to physical distance, emotional detachment, or legal arrangements.

• The separation of church and state is a fundamental principle.
• After years of separation, they finally reunited.

Generally used to describe the action of dividing something, especially a space, into separate parts. It often implies a physical barrier or a formal separation.

• They installed a partition to create two separate offices.
• The partition of the room allowed for better organization of space.