separation of powers
English Meaning & Definitions
A constitutional principle that divides the government into distinct branches—typically legislative, executive, and judicial—to ensure that no single entity holds absolute authority and to provide a system of checks and balances.
- “The constitution is built upon the separation of powers to prevent any one branch from becoming too dominant.”
- “Legal scholars often debate whether the executive order violates the fundamental separation of powers.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “separation of powers”.
The term derives from the Latin 'separatio' (to set apart) and 'potestas' (power). The political concept was famously articulated by the French Enlightenment philosopher Baron de Montesquieu in his 1748 work 'The Spirit of the Laws' (De l'esprit des lois), which argued that the best way to prevent tyranny is to divide government authority into distinct branches.
Think of a 'Three-Legged Stool': If one leg is removed, the government (the seat) falls; the legs must be separate to keep the system balanced.
Frequently Asked Questions About “separation of powers”
1. What is the meaning of “separation of powers” in English?
In English, separation of powers (noun) is defined as: “A constitutional principle that divides the government into distinct branches—typically legislative, executive, and judicial—to ensure that no single entity holds absolute authority and to provide a system of checks and balances.”.
2. How do you use “separation of powers” in a sentence?
“The constitution is built upon the separation of powers to prevent any one branch from becoming too dominant.”
3. What are English synonyms of “separation of powers”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “separation of powers”?
The term derives from the Latin 'separatio' (to set apart) and 'potestas' (power). The political concept was famously articulated by the French Enlightenment philosopher Baron de Montesquieu in his 1748 work 'The Spirit of the Laws' (De l'esprit des lois), which argued that the best way to prevent tyranny is to divide government authority into distinct branches.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.