上述術語均與婚姻關系有關，divorce( “離婚”）和annulment (“宣布婚姻無效”）的區(qū)別在于divorce指的是終止一種合法的婚姻地位[1]；而annulment則是確認此種合法地位從未存在過[2]。dissolution ( “解除婚姻關系”），多被認為是divorce的一 種委婉說法，也是指終止一種合法的婚姻地位（其也包括因配 偶死亡而使婚姻關系解除。須注意的是，Black's Law Dictionary 第 6 版說其不包括 annulment；但 A Dictionary of Modem Legal Usage卻認為其包括annulment [4])。在涉及離婚時，人們一般用 divorce,而不用dissolution of marriage；但在美國，無過錯離婚或除“感情破裂而無法重修舊好”外的不列舉具體離婚原因之“離婚”，卻通常不稱 divorce 而稱 dissolution of marriage。
[1]“the dissolution of a valid marriage granted esp. on specified statutory grounds (as adultery) arising after the marriage." Cf. Linda Picard Wood, J. D.，Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Law, at p. 148, Merriam-Webster, Incorporated (1996).
[2]“Unlike a divorce, an annulment establishes that marital status never existed in law. ” Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 89, West Group (1999).
[3] Cf. The Publisher's Editorial Staff, Black’s Law Dictionary, abridged 6th edition, at p. 328，West Publishing Co. (1991 ).
[4] Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, A Dictionary of Modem Legal Usage, 2nd edition, at p. 549, Oxford University Press (1995).