The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word FORKING
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
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More clues leading to the result FORKING
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "separation on the way" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case separation on the way = forking.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does FORKING mean?
FORKING verb- To divide into two or more branches.
- To move with a fork (as hay or food).
- To spawn a new child process in some sense duplicating the existing process.
- To split a (software) project into several projects.
- To split a (software) distributed version control repository
- To kick someone in the crotch.
- To shoot into blades, as corn does.
- To bale a shaft dry.
- Division into forks
- To have sexual intercourse, to copulate.
- To have sexual intercourse with.
- To insert one’s penis, a dildo or other phallic object, into a specified orifice or cleft.
- To put in an extremely difficult or impossible situation.
- To defraud, deface or otherwise treat badly.
- Used to express great displeasure with someone or something.
- (usually followed by up) To break, to destroy.
- To make a joke at one's expense; to make fun of in an embarrassing manner.
- To throw, to lob something. (angrily)
- To scold