- Do you say “make a divorce” or “get a divorce”?
- Should you say you are “divorcing with” someone or just “divorcing” them?
- What is the difference between an “amicable divorce” and a “contested” one?
Mastering divorce collocations is essential for communicating clearly about legal and personal relationships. Using the right word combinations—rather than translating directly from your native language—helps you sound more professional, reduces “Language Anxiety,” and ensures you are understood in legal or social contexts.
Essential Collocations using DIVORCE as a Noun
Verbs used with Divorce
In English, we use specific verbs to describe the legal process of ending a marriage. Note that “get” is informal, while “file for” is more formal and legalistic.
- File for divorce: To officially start the legal process. Example: After months of separation, she decided to file for divorce.
- Get a divorce: To complete the process of ending a marriage. Example: They finally got a divorce last year.
- Grant a divorce: When a judge officially ends the marriage. Example: The judge granted the divorce after the settlement was signed.
- Seek a divorce: A more formal way to say you want to end the marriage. Example: He is seeking a divorce on the grounds of irreconcilable differences.
Adjectives used with Divorce
Adjectives help describe the “vibe” or the legal state of the separation.
- Amicable divorce: A friendly, non-confrontational split. Example: Despite the breakup, they had an amicable divorce for the sake of the kids.
- Messy divorce: A complicated, emotionally difficult, or high-conflict split. Example: It was a messy divorce that lasted three years in court.
- Contested divorce: A divorce where the partners cannot agree on terms. Example: A contested divorce usually requires expensive lawyers.
- Decree absolute: (UK English) The final legal document that ends a marriage. Example: They are waiting for their decree absolute to arrive.
Divorce as a Compound Noun
“Divorce” often acts as a modifier for other nouns to describe specific items or people involved.
- Divorce settlement: The financial agreement made. Example: She received a fair divorce settlement.
- Divorce lawyer: A legal professional specializing in these cases. Example: You should consult a divorce lawyer before signing anything.
- Divorce proceedings: The legal steps and court sessions. Example: The divorce proceedings were kept private.
- Divorce rate: The statistical frequency of divorces. Example: The divorce rate has stabilized in recent years.
Common Collocations with DIVORCE as a Verb
Transitive Usage (Divorcing Someone)
When “divorce” is a verb, it is transitive. This means you do not need the word “with.”
- Divorce someone: To legally end a marriage with a spouse. Example: She decided to divorce him in 2023.
- Formally divorce: To complete the legal paperwork. Example: They have been separated for years but only formally divorced last month.
Adverbs used with Divorce
These adverbs describe how the action of divorcing was carried out.
- Quietly divorce: To end a marriage without public attention. Example: The celebrity couple quietly divorced over the summer.
- Legally divorce: To emphasize the official status. Example: They are legally divorced, even though they still live in the same house.
Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| File for divorce | Verb + Noun | To start the legal paperwork to end a marriage. |
| Amicable divorce | Adjective + Noun | A peaceful and friendly separation. |
| Divorce settlement | Noun + Noun | The financial agreement at the end of a marriage. |
| Get divorced | Passive Verb Phrase | The action of becoming a divorced person. |
| Divorce someone | Verb + Object | To end the marriage (No “with” needed). |
| Contested divorce | Adjective + Noun | A divorce where partners disagree on the terms. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| I want to divorce with my husband. | I want to divorce my husband. / I want to get a divorce from my husband. |
| They made a divorce last year. | They got a divorce last year. |
| The divorce price is very high. | The divorce rate is very high. |
| He filed a divorce. | He filed for divorce. |
Contextual Story
“After ten years of marriage, Mark and Sarah realized they had grown apart. Instead of a messy divorce, they opted for an amicable divorce to keep things simple for their children. They hired a divorce lawyer to help them draft a fair divorce settlement. Once Mark decided to file for divorce, the divorce proceedings moved quickly. They are now legally divorced, but they remain good friends.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Divorce Collocations
Is it “divorce from” or “divorce with”?
You “get a divorce from” someone. You do NOT “divorce with” someone. If you use divorce as a verb, you don’t need a preposition at all (e.g., “I am divorcing him”).
What is the difference between “divorced” and “getting a divorce”?
“Getting a divorce” refers to the active process or the time spent in legal proceedings. “Divorced” is an adjective describing your marital status after the process is 100% finished.
Why do people say “file for divorce” instead of just “start a divorce”?
“File for divorce” is the specific legal collocation used because you are submitting (filing) legal documents to a court. It is the standard professional term used in the US, UK, and Canada.
Can “divorce” be used for things other than marriage?
Yes, in a metaphorical sense, you can “divorce” ideas or things. For example, “You cannot divorce the results from the hard work put in.” This means to separate two connected things.
What is an “uncontested divorce”?
An uncontested divorce is one where both spouses agree on all the terms, such as property division and child custody, meaning they don’t need to argue in front of a judge.
I've learned a lot today! Thank you, Translateen.com, for always providing such clear and practical explanations for real-world English usage.
Can you briefly explain what 'grounds for divorce' means? It was mentioned in an example. Does it mean the reasons for the divorce?
You've got it, Eva! 'Grounds for divorce' refers to the legally recognized reasons or justifications for seeking a divorce. Historically, these were specific offenses like adultery or abandonment. In many places now, 'no-fault' grounds like 'irreconcilable differences' or 'irretrievable breakdown' are common, meaning no specific blame needs to be assigned. It's essentially the legal basis for the court to grant the divorce.
This article makes me realize how many specific verbs English has for legal actions. My native language often uses more general verbs.
Is 'divorce papers' a common collocation? Or is it more informal?
Yes, Svetlana, 'divorce papers' is a very common and widely understood collocation. It refers to the legal documents involved in the divorce process. While it's not as formal as 'divorce petition' or 'legal documents pertaining to the dissolution of marriage,' it's perfectly acceptable and commonly used in both everyday conversation and even in some less formal legal contexts. It's a useful term to know!
I teach English to adults, and divorce is a topic that sometimes comes up. This article provides excellent, precise language for discussing it. Thank you for the resource!
What exactly does 'grant a divorce' mean from the judge's perspective? Does it mean they approve it, or actually finalize it?
Hi Aisha! 'Grant a divorce' means the judge officially approves and legally finalizes the dissolution of the marriage. It's the moment the legal status changes from married to divorced, often after all settlements have been agreed upon or decided by the court. It's the definitive legal act of ending the marriage.
The point about not translating directly from native language is so true. It's a constant struggle, but articles like this make it easier.
This is so useful for understanding legal news! When I read about celebrities getting divorced, I often see phrases like 'irreconcilable differences' or 'alimony.' Are these also considered collocations with divorce?
Absolutely, Sofia! While 'irreconcilable differences' is a legal ground *for* divorce and 'alimony' is a financial term *related* to divorce, they are definitely part of the extended vocabulary cluster you'd find when discussing divorce. You're thinking about semantic fields and common contextual word pairs, which is a fantastic way to expand your vocabulary! Keep connecting these ideas.
Thanks for clarifying 'divorcing with'! My intuition told me it was wrong, but I couldn't explain why. This article confirms it.
Is 'divorcing someone' as in 'He is divorcing his wife' grammatically correct? Or should it always be 'He is getting a divorce from his wife'?
Yes, Chloe, 'He is divorcing his wife' is grammatically correct and perfectly natural! 'Divorce' can be used as a transitive verb, meaning it can take a direct object (the person being divorced). So, both 'He is divorcing his wife' and 'He is getting a divorce from his wife' are correct, with the former being slightly more direct.