This is the 12415th most frequent Swedish word.
skilsmässan
"Skilsmässan" means "the divorce" in English.
The word 'skilsmässan' is the definite form of 'skilsmässa' (divorce), and it refers specifically here to a singular and known act of divorce between specific individuals.
Skilsmässan mellan dem var ett svårt beslut.
The divorce between them was a difficult decision.
Here 'skilsmässan' indicates a definite event in the past, pointing to a life change of the subject.
Efter skilsmässan började hon ett nytt kapitel i sitt liv.
After the divorce, she started a new chapter in her life.
In this sentence, 'skilsmässan' functions to denote a particular known divorce event that had broad implications for the family.