disband

Disband is a verb meaning to cause a group or organization to cease to exist or function. When a group disbands, it stops formal activities and its members go their separate ways. The process can be voluntary, guided by a vote or decision of members; it can also be mandated by external authority. Disbandment may involve legal or administrative steps to wind down operations, settle assets and liabilities, and terminate contracts or commitments. The noun form is disbandment (or disbanding).

Disbandment occurs in many contexts. In music, a band may disband after tours or due to creative differences. In the military, a unit may be disbanded and its personnel reassigned. In corporations, clubs, committees, or governments, a body may be dissolved when there is no longer a purpose or funding. In some cases, disbanded groups may later reform or reorganize under a new structure or name.

Disbanding is distinct from dissolution, which more often refers to a legal termination of a corporate entity, and from breakup, a more informal term for ending an alliance or relationship. However, both terms can be related, depending on context. Etymology: the term comes from dis- plus band, with band meaning a group or body, reflecting the act of removing or breaking apart a group.

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