French Conversation · Level 87
60 words
French word
clivage
Pronunciation
IPA/klivaʒ/
Meaning
- masculine noundivide
Example
Il existe un clivage entre les générations.
There is a divide between the generations.
More examples
Le clivage social se manifeste dans la vie quotidienne.
The social divide manifests itself in everyday life.
Core concept
A durable seam divides a shared group, leaving two recognizable camps.
Common phrases
clivage social
social divide
clivage générationnel
generational divide
Similar words
désaccord: A lack of agreement in opinions or judgments.
différence: A difference in characteristics or ways of thinking.
division: The separation of a group or thing into several distinct units.
rupture: The breaking of a relationship or connection so that it ends.
Definition in French
Division nette et durable entre groupes ou opinions, surtout dans les domaines social, politique ou générationnel.
Word origin
The suffix -age turns cliver into a noun naming an act or result, so clivage links the act of splitting with the division it produces.
Usage tips
- Clivage is common in journalism and formal analysis, while désaccord usually fits an ordinary disagreement between people.