# divest

> English word · Verb · IPA /daɪˈvɛst/ · frequency rank #33,623

## Definitions
1. To strip, deprive, or dispossess (someone) of something (such as a right, passion, privilege, or prejudice).
2. To sell off or be rid of through sale, especially of a subsidiary.
3. To undress.

## Etymology
Alteration of devest, from Middle French devester (“strip of possessions”), from Old French desvestir, from des- (“dis-”) + vestir (“to clothe”).

## Easily confused with
- **doves** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/divest-vs-doves)
- **duvet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/divest-vs-duvet)
- **drives** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/divest-vs-drives)
- **driest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/divest-vs-driest)
- **diet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/diet-vs-divest)
- **dies** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dies-vs-divest)
- **dive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dive-vs-divest)
- **dist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dist-vs-divest)
- **diver** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/diver-vs-divest)
- **dives** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dives-vs-divest)
- **dived** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dived-vs-divest)
- **dimes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dimes-vs-divest)
- **dikes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dikes-vs-divest)
- **direct** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/direct-vs-divest)
- **digest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/digest-vs-divest)
- **divers** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/divers-vs-divest)
- **divert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/divert-vs-divest)
- **detest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detest-vs-divest)
- **diverse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/diverse-vs-divest)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ddivest`, `dievst`, `divesst`, `divestt`, `divets`, `divset`, `divvest`, `dviest`, `idvest`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/divest