noun

divestiture

/dɪˈvɛstɪtʃər/ · say it: dih·VES·tih·chur

selling off part of a business

In From the Business Pages

In more detail

1. (noun) the act of selling off or getting rid of a business, property, or investment

2. (noun) the removal or stripping away of something, especially power or authority

Examples

1. The company announced the divestiture of its European division to focus on North America.
2. The scandal led to the divestiture of the minister's responsibilities.

How to use divestiture

Divestiture is a formal, business-oriented term used primarily in corporate and financial contexts to describe the deliberate selling off or removal of business units, subsidiaries, or assets. It often implies a strategic business decision or sometimes a legal/regulatory requirement (e.g., antitrust actions). The term carries a sense of intentional separation rather than simple disposal.

Common phrases

corporate divestiture
forced divestiture
divestiture of assets
divestiture program
strategic divestiture

Synonyms

disposal · sale · liquidation · relinquishment · separation

Opposites

acquisition · investment · purchase

Word family

divest (verb) · divested (adjective/past participle)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse divestiture with divestment; while closely related, divestiture emphasizes the actual transaction of selling/disposing, whereas divestment can also mean withdrawal of investment for ethical/political reasons.

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