rift

A rift is a split or division between people, groups, or things. Imagine two continents moving apart - that's a big rift.

When we talk about a rift, we usually mean a disagreement or separation between two or more parties. This can happen in many areas of life: politics, relationships, social movements, and even the earth itself (like when tectonic plates move away from each other). In all these cases, there's a sense of distance or disconnection. For example, if you hear about a rift between friends, it means they're not getting along as well as they used to. If there's a rift in a company, it might mean employees are unhappy and protesting their working conditions.