Standard Lemma guide

dismemberment

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH0 S M EH1 M B ER0 M AH0 N T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act of dismembering.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The state or condition of being dismembered.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Removal from membership; detachment from an organization, group, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable

Examples

  • 1867, "Supreme Court of the District of Columbia. Ex Parte Magruder," The American Law Register (1852-1891), vol. 15, no. 5, New Series Volume 6, (Mar.), p. 295, The decision of the Supreme Court involved a dismemberment from the bar.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

the removal of limbs; being cut to pieces

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: taking apart

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: torture, torturing, mutilation

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English dismember Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-mentom Latin -mentum Old French -mentbor. Middle English -ment English -ment English dismemberment From dismember + -ment.