séparation

Séparation is the act or process of keeping things apart or moving them from a combined state to distinct parts. The term derives from the Latin separare, from se- “apart” and parare “to prepare” or “to set apart.” In general usage, separation denotes a state or action that results in disconnection, difference, or isolation of elements.

In science and engineering, separation refers to methods for isolating a substance from a mixture or purifying a material. Common techniques include filtration, distillation, crystallization, centrifugation, and chromatography. These processes exploit differences in physical properties such as solubility, volatility, particle size, or chemical affinity to obtain purer substances or components.

In law and governance, separation has several applications. Separation of powers describes the distribution of governmental authority across branches to prevent the concentration of power. Separation of church and state refers to the principle of keeping religious institutions distinct from governmental institutions. In family law, marital or legal separation denotes a status in which a couple lives apart while remaining legally married, often as a step before divorce.

In social and everyday contexts, separation can describe physical or relational distance between people or places, including long-term partnerships, geographic divides, or cultural boundaries between communities.

In mathematics and philosophy, separation appears in concepts such as separation axioms in topology, which formalize when distinct points or sets can be separated by neighborhoods.

---