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
4
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

6

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 The businesses’ existing presence in North America provides an opportunity for global expansion of TGI Sport’s content creation division, TGI Sport | Wildcard. Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 28 Mar. 2025 The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. Stories By Real-Time News Team, With Ai Summarization, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025 This can be achieved via addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. Trevor Laurence Jockims, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2025 The law creates an enforcement fund that will be collected from fines that the state’s licensing division issues to anyone who practices mental health therapy without a license. Jessica Schreifels, ProPublica, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for division
Recent Examples of Synonyms for division
Noun
  • The pebbled leather is durable and won’t easily scuff, while the divider zip pocket makes organizing a breeze.
    Megan Schaltegger, People.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Featuring two compartments with a removable divider insert, this case has room for all your essentials, and nothing wiggles around.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 14 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Lori Tremmel Freeman, CEO of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, said some departments have already begun cutting staff.
    Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Along the way, Butman made connections with WCC's department leaders and instructors.
    Jamie L. LaReau, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • For instance, the international feature category currently honors the submitting country, not the director — even though the director’s name is engraved on the Oscar statuette.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Seven companies own and operate 11 platforms in the marketplace, with Netflix, Foxtel, Nine, Disney, Amazon, Paramount and Seven securing a 90% share of premium VOD category viewership and revenue in 2024.
    Sara Merican, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Trump last year won Sauk — split between Democratic-leaning areas closer to Madison and a more conservative rural northwest — by 626 votes after Democrat Joe Biden won the county by 615 votes in 2020.
    Thomas Beaumont, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2025
  • That split has hit many communities in the country as the brick-and-mortar retail industry suffers while housing shortages worsen.
    Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • That and other projects could see Western increase its capital expenditures over the next few years—and might leave less room for ambitious distribution raises.
    Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • San Francisco will tie clean needle distribution for drug users to treatment and counseling San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said the city’s drug overdose crisis requires a bolder approach to getting illicit drug users off the streets and into treatment.
    Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Earlier this month, discord within the party broke out after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted along with nine other Senate Democrats and one House Democrat to approve a House GOP funding measure in an effort to avoid a government shutdown.
    Julia Manchester, The Hill, 31 Mar. 2025
  • From taking your lighting to Clark Griswold-status to planting a towering oak smack dab on the property line, there are plenty of ways your garden can cause discord among the neighbors in record time.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Down in the count to Kevin Gausman, Alonso drove a 95 mph fastball, low and off the plate, over the right field fence.
    Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Footage also captured the woman being stuck on the fence as emergency services worked to extract her.
    Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Membership dues contributed about $2.7 million to the Visit Orlando, a fraction of the agency’s $109 million budget, according to the latest tax filings.
    Skyler Swisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Daniel has already been sworn in by 914 agencies, making the record-setting dream a near reality.
    Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Division.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/division. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

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