secede means to split from or to withdraw from membership of a political union, an alliance or an organisation. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 81 out of 100.
secede is pronounced /sɪˈsiːd/.
Why “secede” is a great word
SECEDE — [Verb] To withdraw formally from membership in a political or organizational union. From Latin secedere, from se- ("apart") + cēdere ("to go, yield"). First attested in English c. 1702. Unlike "succeed," which strives to attain or inherit a position, or "recede," which describes a gradual, often physical, retreat, to secede is a decisive, political rupture. It is the pen stroke on a declaration of independence, the lowering of a common flag, and the silent, final turn of a delegate's back in an assembly hall—a formal declaration that going apart is the only way to remain oneself.
verb
- To split from or to withdraw from membership of a political union, an alliance or an organisation.“We can secede from the United Kingdom any time we want.”
- To split or to withdraw one or more constituent entities from membership of a political union, an alliance or an organisation.“At the same time, Nolan also secretly contracted with the crafty United States Army general James Wilkinson to organize some men to secede Texas from Spanish America.”