de·mar·ca·tion

also de·mar·ka·tion (dē′mär-kā′shən)

1. The setting or marking of boundaries or limits.

2. A separation; a distinction: a line of demarcation between two rock strata.

[Spanish demarcación, from demarcar, to mark boundaries : de-, off (from Latin dē-; see de-) + marcar, to mark (from Italian marcare, from Old Italian, of Germanic origin; see merg- in Indo-European roots).]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

demarcation

(ˌdiːmɑːˈkeɪʃən) or

demarkation

1. the act of establishing limits or boundaries

2. a limit or boundary

3. (Industrial Relations & HR Terms)

a. a strict separation of the kinds of work performed by members of different trade unions

b. (as modifier): demarcation dispute.

4. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) separation or distinction (often in the phrase line of demarcation)

[C18: Latinized version of Spanish demarcación, from demarcar to appoint the boundaries of, from marcar to mark, from Italian marcare, of Germanic origin; see mark¹]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

de•mar•ca•tion

or de•mar•ka•tion

(ˌdi mɑrˈkeɪ ʃən)

n.

1. the determining and marking off of the boundaries of something.

2. separation by distinct boundaries: line of demarcation.

[1720–30; Sp demarcación, derivative of demarcar to mark out the bounds of < Italian marcare]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	demarcation - the boundary of a specific area demarcation line, limit edge - the outside limit of an object or area or surface; a place farthest away from the center of something; "the edge of the leaf is wavy"; "she sat on the edge of the bed"; "the water's edge" boundary, bounds, bound - the line or plane indicating the limit or extent of something city limit, city limits - the limits of the area occupied by a city or town upper limit - the limit on the upper (or northernmost) side of something lower limit - the limit on the lower (or southernmost) side of something three-mile limit - the limit of a nation's territorial waters
	2.	demarcation - a conceptual separation or distinction; "there is a narrow line between sanity and insanity" dividing line, contrast, line differentiation, distinction - a discrimination between things as different and distinct; "it is necessary to make a distinction between love and infatuation" point of no return, Rubicon - a line that when crossed permits of no return and typically results in irrevocable commitment

demarcation

noun

1. limit, bound, margin, boundary, confine, enclosure, pale The demarcation of the border between the two countries.

2. delimitation, division, distinction, separation, differentiation The demarcation of duties became more blurred.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

afgrænsningdemarkationslinjefaggrænsegrænsegrænsedragning

demarkaatiodemarkaatiolinjarajarajalinjarajanveto

demarcazione

демаркация разграничение разделение

demarcation

[ˌdiːmɑːˈkeɪʃən]

A. N → demarcación f

B. CPD demarcation dispute N → conflicto m de competencias laborales
demarcation line N → línea f de demarcación

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

demarcation

n → Abgrenzung f, → Demarkation f; demarcation line → Demarkationslinie f; demarcation dispute → Streit m → um den Zuständigkeitsbereich

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

demarcation

[ˌdiːmɑːˈkeɪʃ/ən] n (frm) → demarcazione f
demarcation dispute → controversia settoriale or di categoria
demarcation line → linea di demarcazione

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Advocating therefore a VIA MEDIA, I would lay down no fixed or absolute line of demarcation; but at the period when the frame is just beginning to set, and when the Medical Board has reported that recovery is improbable, I would suggest that the Irregular offspring be painlessly and mercifully consumed.

View in context

The conclusion which I am warranted in drawing from these observations is, that a mere demarcation on parchment of the constitutional limits of the several departments, is not a sufficient guard against those encroachments which lead to a tyrannical concentration of all the powers of government in the same hands.

View in context

For those were times when there was no rigid demarcation of rank between the farmer and the respectable artisan, and on the home hearth, as well as in the public house, they might be seen taking their jug of ale together; the farmer having a latent sense of capital, and of weight in parish affairs, which sustained him under his conspicuous inferiority in conversation.

View in context

Suddenly the projectile passed the line of demarcation between intense light and absolute darkness, and was plunged in profound night!

View in context

On the view that species are only strongly marked and permanent varieties, and that each species first existed as a variety, we can see why it is that no line of demarcation can be drawn between species, commonly supposed to have been produced by special acts of creation, and varieties which are acknowledged to have been produced by secondary laws.

View in context

At any garrisoned point where the line of demarcation between one country and another is so very narrow as at Niagara, desertion from the ranks can scarcely fail to be of frequent occurrence: and it may be reasonably supposed that when the soldiers entertain the wildest and maddest hopes of the fortune and independence that await them on the other side, the impulse to play traitor, which such a place suggests to dishonest minds, is not weakened.

View in context

The line of demarcation between the two colours, black and blue, showed the point which the pure sea would not pass; but it lay as quiet as the abominable pool, with which it never mixed.

View in context

There appeared to be no line of demarcation between the young person's excessive innocence, and another person's guiltiest knowledge.

View in context

There are rudimentary bow-windows, cornices, chimneys, demarcations of stories, etc.

View in context

By mid-morning, about half the men had crossed the demarcation line at Quneitra, said ICRC spokeswoman Nadia Dibsy.

Hundreds of Golan Druze cross demarcation line

Var Kimhong, senior minister in charge of border affairs and top negotiator with neighboring countries on border issues, told Kyodo News he met with his Vietnamese counterpart Ho Xuan Son on Monday and Tuesday in Cambodia's northern Siem Reap Province and the two countries agreed to end the border demarcation project by 2012.

Cambodia, Vietnam hope to finish border demarcation by 2012