division

noun

də-ˈvi-zhən How to pronounce division (audio)
Definition of divisionnext
1
as in divider
something that divides, separates, or marks off we poked our heads over the division between the yards to see what the fuss was about

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in department
a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization the complaints division handled all of the calls from the angry townsfolk

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in category
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic one of the major divisions of birds

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in split
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces the assembly line was a major development in the division of labor among workers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in distribution
the act or process of giving out something to each member of a group the person in charge of the division of the profits among the business partners

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6
as in discord
a lack of agreement or harmony that church has been racked by division for some time now, and a split into two denominations seems unavoidable

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word division distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of division are fragment, member, part, piece, portion, section, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When would fragment be a good substitute for division?

While in some cases nearly identical to division, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

When can member be used instead of division?

While the synonyms member and division are close in meaning, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

Where would part be a reasonable alternative to division?

The words part and division can be used in similar contexts, but part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

In what contexts can piece take the place of division?

In some situations, the words piece and division are roughly equivalent. However, piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

When is portion a more appropriate choice than division?

Although the words portion and division have much in common, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When could section be used to replace division?

The synonyms section and division are sometimes interchangeable, but section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

When is it sensible to use segment instead of division?

The words segment and division are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of division Ukrainian defense company Fire Point trolled Yandex on X in response to a statement from the tech giant’s head of fintech division, Dima Pirogov. — Zahra Ullah, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026 Here are top results from Saturday’s races, with winners by division. — Jeff Rosen, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026 Lockheed Martin has its Skunk Works division, Pixar its Braintrust, and what would an F1 team be without its pit crew? — Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2026 Alex Cancado, who spent years in visual effects and has worked on over 80 movies, now works in the AI Studios division of Amazon MGM Studios. — Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for division
Recent Examples of Synonyms for division
  1. divider
  2. department
  3. category
  4. split
  5. distribution
  6. discord
  7. fence
  8. agency
Noun
  • Better yet, those dividers pull out and double as flat tops for the crate, turning it into a makeshift workstation or seat (without leaving the milk crate imprint on your skin afterward).
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The Ghost bag comes with a 14-way divider, so every club has a spot, or a 7-way divider which is more traditional.
    — Langston Wertz Jr, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of divider
Noun
  • In January 2025, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch changed the department pursuit policy, barring cops from chasing after vehicles fleeing car stops unless a felony crime or a violent misdemeanor was committed.
    — John Annese, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The high amount of overtime at the mental health department is related mainly to nurses working at the state’s mental health hospitals, Whiting and Connecticut Valley Hospital, which are both in Middletown.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of department
Noun
  • Chen said another product category that has taken off is their souvenir merchandise.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Adenocarcinomas belong to a broader category of lung cancers known as non-small cell lung cancer, which tend to grow more slowly and spread less quickly to other parts of the body.
    — Alice Park, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of category
Noun
  • Somebody introduced the train-test split and started a leaderboard.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The band recorded a third album in 1977 but its label, Columbia, was unimpressed and declined to release it and Pavlov’s Dog split (the album was final issued by German label Rockville some 30 years later).
    — Jem Aswad, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of split
Noun
  • The program offers discussions of financing and distribution, opportunities to present unfinished work and pitch projects, and meetings with industry representatives.
    — Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Irish production and distribution shingle, which specializes in horror and adjacent genre movies, is handling worldwide sales on the film, which recently wrapped principal photography.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of distribution
Noun
  • So far, counter-efforts have involved both protectionist and industrial policies, including “Made in Europeâ€� rules that have stoked discord among some of Europe’s largest economies.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Officials say one goal of the attacks is to undermine support for Ukraine, spread fear and discord in European societies and drain investigative resources.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of discord
Noun
  • The trade-deadline blockbusters and late-night deals all seemed at the time like the Sixers were swinging for the fences.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Swift and Kelce bought a property in Bratenahl, Ohio, and are planning to add a six-foot fence and numerous trees around the property for privacy.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of fence
Noun
  • Ronen Bar, former head of the agency commonly known as Shin Bet, demanded $965,000 in the suit filed Wednesday.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Darrell Alexander, who runs composer agency Cool Music, sees working as an additional composer as the best entry point for anyone starting out.
    — Ben Croll, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of agency

Browse Nearby Words

divisible
division
divisional
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Division.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/division. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on division

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about division

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