上述术语均与婚姻关系有关，divorce( “离婚”）和annulment (“宣布婚姻无效”）的区别在于divorce指的是终止一种合法的婚姻地位[1]；而annulment则是确认此种合法地位从未存在过[2]。dissolution ( “解除婚姻关系”），多被认为是divorce的一 种委婉说法，也是指终止一种合法的婚姻地位（其也包括因配 偶死亡而使婚姻关系解除。须注意的是，Black's Law Dictionary 第 6 版说其不包括 annulment；但 A Dictionary of Modem Legal Usage却认为其包括annulment [4])。在涉及离婚时，人们一般用 divorce,而不用dissolution of marriage；但在美国，无过错离婚或除“感情破裂而无法重修旧好”外的不列举具体离婚原因之“离婚”，却通常不称 divorce 而称 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).