Meaning & use
secession
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
The act of formally leaving a political union, alliance, or organization to become independent.
Grammar: Used without 'a' or plural; often followed by 'from': secession from the union.
Patterns
- secession from something
The southern states' secession from the Union led to the Civil War.
Scotland held a referendum on secession from the United Kingdom in 2014.
The group advocated for the secession of the region from the country.
nouncountable
The withdrawal of a group or organization from a larger body, especially a church or political party.
Grammar: Can be used with 'a' or in the plural: a secession of members; several secessions.
Patterns
- secession of something from something
The secession of the conservative faction weakened the party.
The church faced a secession of several congregations over the new policy.
Word forms
| plural | secessions |
|---|
Common combinations
- war of secession
- The American Civil War is sometimes called the War of Secession in other countries.
- secession movement
- The secession movement gained momentum after the election.
- secession referendum
- The government agreed to hold a secession referendum in the region.
- advocate secession
- Some politicians openly advocate secession from the federal system.
Synonyms and how they differ
- withdrawal
- More general; can refer to leaving any group or activity, not just a political union.
- breakaway
- Often used as a noun or adjective for a sudden separation, especially in sports or politics.
- independence
- Focuses on the resulting freedom rather than the act of leaving.
Opposites
Word family
- secede verb
- To formally withdraw from a union or organization.
- secessionist noun
- A person who supports secession.
- secessionist adjective
- Relating to or supporting secession.
Commonly confused: secession or cession?
secession vs cession
Cession means the formal giving up of territory or rights to another country, often after a war. Secession is a group leaving a union, while cession is a transfer of land or rights.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'secession' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Secession refers to a region or group formally leaving a larger political body, as in option B. Option An is wrong because secession is not used for companies leaving markets; 'withdrawal' would be better. Option C confuses 'secession' with 'session' or 'concession'. Option D is nonsensical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “secession”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.