Sundering

Sundering is the act of splitting or severing something into parts, or the result of that action. The term derives from the verb sunder, meaning to split apart, with sundering functioning as the present participle or gerund. It can describe physical breakage as well as social, political, or symbolic ruptures, such as the sundering of alliances or communities.

In everyday usage, sundering appears in discussions of historical events, treaties dissolved, or communities divided by conflict or disaster. In scholarly writing, more precise terms—rupture, fracture, dissolution—are often preferred depending on the context. In geology and geography, writers may use sundering to convey breakage or separation, though technical vocabulary and specific mechanisms (faults, collapses, plate movement) are typically employed for precision.

In fantasy fiction and role-playing games, sundering is a common plot device describing dramatic ruptures or reunifications of realms, magic, or landscapes. A prominent example occurs in the Forgotten Realms setting, where The Sundering refers to a major campaign arc in the 2010s intended to reshape the world after earlier magical upheavals. Other works across literature and media use the term similarly to signal a pivotal separation or rejoining of divergent elements, often with lasting narrative consequences.