Tell me more ×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.

Could you kindly tell me what exactly is the difference between "splitting up with somebody" and "getting divorced"?

I think getting divorced is done officially and it needs you to sign some paper. However, splitting up with somebody is not like this. You just live separately from someone (that you have been married to) without officially separating from him/her.

Are my definitions correct?

share|improve this question

2 Answers

I agree that "getting a divorce" is a formal process, equivalent to getting married, that involves paperwork and official registration. Splitting up, though, could also mean getting a divorce - it's a more general term for the dissolution of a relationship, which might be formal or informal.

Also, splitting up doesn't require you to be married first. You could just have been dating for a couple of weeks. You don't necessarily live together. It covers a wider range of relationship situations than getting a divorce. One of which, as you said, is breaking up a marriage without filing formal paperwork to that effect. It's a useful term. :)

share|improve this answer

Split up means to end a marriage or an emotional or working relationship:

I split up with my girlfriend a year ago.

On the other hand in a relationship, divorce is the legal dissolution of a marriage and only happens after one is legally married. You could say that you have split up with your partner to mean that you are separated and no longer live together. This could also sometimes refer to a divorce.

Ref: Def. Oxford Dictionary

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.