A terminal block having a terminal housing, at least two electrically conductive contact elements, at least two conductor connection elements for connecting electric conductors, and at least one separating element arranged movably in the terminal housing, the separating element having a longitudinal axis and the two electrically conductive contact elements being connected in a first position of the separating element and disconnected in a second position of the separating element. A reduction of the space requirement for the separation point between the contact elements and the separating element during simple operation of the separating element is achieved by the contact elements being arranged consecutively in the longitudinal direction of the separating element; the separating element is arranged in the terminal housing to be movable in the longitudinal direction; and the movement direction of the separating element is different from the direction of the longitudinal extension of the terminal block.