dissolution

What it means

1. countableuncountableThe termination of an organized body or legislative assembly, especially a formal dismissal.

   Synonyms: abolition, disestablishment · Antonyms: establishment, foundation

2. countableuncountableDisintegration, or decomposition into fragments.

   The whole fabric dries up, or becomes putrid; and, in both cases, sooner or later, tends to a dissolution.

   1822, John Barclay, chapter I, in An Inquiry Into the Opinions, Ancient and Modern, Concerning Life and Organization, Edinburgh; London: Bell & Bradfute; Waugh & Innes; G. & W. B. Whittaker, section I, page 2

   1 more example

   On August 16, 2014, a 24-year-old male programmer posted a more than 9,000-word tirade about the dissolution of his relationship with video game developer Zoë Quinn.

   2025 March 23, Harmeet Kaur, “How Gamergate foreshadowed the toxic hellscape that the internet has now become”, in CNN

3. countableuncountableDissolving, or going into solution.

In a sentence

The whole fabric dries up, or becomes putrid; and, in both cases, sooner or later, tends to a dissolution.

1822, John Barclay, chapter I, in An Inquiry Into the Opinions, Ancient and Modern, Concerning Life and Organization, Edinburgh; London: Bell & Bradfute; Waugh & Innes; G. & W. B. Whittaker, section I, page 2

Where it comes from

1. Latindissolūtiō“a dissolving, destroying, breaking up, dissolution”
2. Old Frenchdissolucion
3. Middle Englishdissolucioun
4. Englishdissolution

From Middle English dissolucioun, from Old French dissolucion, from Latin dissolūtiō (“a dissolving, destroying, breaking up, dissolution”).