verb (used with object), dis·so·ci·at·ed, dis·so·ci·at·ing.
- to sever the association of (oneself); separate: He tried to dissociate himself from the bigotry in his past.
- to subject to dissociation.
verb (used without object), dis·so·ci·at·ed, dis·so·ci·at·ing.
- to withdraw from association.
- to undergo dissociation.
verb
- to break or cause to break the association between (people, organizations, etc)
- (tr) to regard or treat as separate or unconnected
- to undergo or subject to dissociation
1610s (implied in dissociated), from Latin dissociatus, past participle of dissociare “to separate from companionship, disunite, set at variance,” from dis- “apart” (see dis-) + sociare “to join,” from socius “companion” (see social (adj.)). Attested from 1540s as a past participle adjective meaning “separated.”