divorced
A status describing a person who was previously married but has legally ended their marriage. It is the state of being no longer joined to a spouse by law.
Examples
3 of 5My aunt is divorced and lives in a small apartment now.
My aunt is no longer married and lives in a small apartment now.
The legal document identifies the individual as divorced.
The official paper says the person is legally separated from their spouse.
He's divorced, so he spends every other weekend with his kids.
He is not married anymore, so he sees his children on specific weekends.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of the 'd' at the end of divorced standing for 'Done'—the marriage is finished or done.
Quick Quiz
After twenty years of marriage, the couple decided to get ___.
Correct!
The correct answer is: divorced
Examples
My aunt is divorced and lives in a small apartment now.
everydayMy aunt is no longer married and lives in a small apartment now.
The legal document identifies the individual as divorced.
formalThe official paper says the person is legally separated from their spouse.
He's divorced, so he spends every other weekend with his kids.
informalHe is not married anymore, so he sees his children on specific weekends.
Research indicates that many divorced adults eventually remarry.
academicStudies show that many people whose marriages ended eventually get married again.
The employee updated his insurance forms to show he is now divorced.
businessThe worker changed his paperwork to reflect his new marital status.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
child of divorce
a person whose parents ended their marriage
get a divorce
to go through the legal process of ending a marriage
divorced from reality
not being in touch with what is actually happening
Often Confused With
Separated means living apart but still legally married; divorced means the marriage is legally over.
Single usually implies never married, while divorced implies a marriage has ended.
Usage Notes
The word is most commonly used as an adjective after the verbs 'to be' or 'to get'. It describes a permanent legal change in status.
Common Mistakes
Learners often say 'I am divorce' instead of 'I am divorced'. Remember to use the -ed ending for the status.
Memory Tip
Think of the 'd' at the end of divorced standing for 'Done'—the marriage is finished or done.
Word Origin
From the Latin 'divortium', which means a separation or a turning aside.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many modern English-speaking cultures, being divorced is a common social status and is generally accepted without stigma.
Quick Quiz
After twenty years of marriage, the couple decided to get ___.
Correct!
The correct answer is: divorced
Related Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
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