Disaffiliating

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The act of breaking ties with an established group or organization involves withdrawing from any recognized affiliation or membership while completely dissociating from former associations
2. Ceasing a formal relationship with a group or institution by terminating membership or association
3. The process of formally separating oneself from an organization, removing any official links or ties

Etymology: The verb "affiliate" came first, built from Latin "affiliare", a word meaning to adopt as a son, from "ad" plus "filius", "son". So the original sense was closer to taking someone into a family than joining an organization. Over time, the idea of being adopted into a body turned into being attached to a group, a church, a party or a union. "Disaffiliate" adds the prefix "dis-", which carries a sense of reversal or separation, giving the meaning of undoing that attachment. The prefix comes from Latin "dis-", and it entered English through Old French "des-" and Middle English "dis-", so the reversing sense has been part of the language for centuries. The "dis-" prefix and "affiliate" together make a plain compound, and the verb simply describes cutting formal ties with a group. Its "-ing" ending is the ordinary form used for the action in progress.

Synonyms: dissociating, separating

Antonyms: affiliating, joining