dissociate
/dɪˈsəʊ.si.eɪt/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To separate one thing from another, or to stop them being linked. In psychology, it can mean to become mentally separate from feelings, memories, or identity.
- She tried to dissociate the brand from the scandal.
- He dissociated himself from the rude comments.
- Some patients dissociate during severe stress.
Adinary Nuance
Dissociate is more formal and precise than separate. It often means you want to break a connection in thought, feeling, or public image. In academic writing, it is common in phrases like 'dissociate oneself from'.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tách ra
- Spanish
- separar
- Chinese
- 分离
- Japanese
- 切り離す
- Korean
- 분리하다
Etymology
Dissociate comes from Late Latin dissociare, from dis- meaning 'apart' and sociare meaning 'join'. It entered English in the 17th century.
Common phrases
dissociate oneself fromdissociate from the groupdissociate the brand frommental dissociation
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is dissociate formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal. You often see it in academic, legal, or careful written English.
- What is the difference between dissociate and disassociate?
- They are very close in meaning. Dissociate is the older, more standard form, while disassociate is also used.
- Can I say 'dissociate myself from'?
- Yes. It is a common and natural phrase when you want to reject an idea or action.
- Is dissociate used in psychology?
- Yes. It can describe mental separation from feelings, memories, or reality.