isolation

[ ahy-suh-ley-shuhn, is-uh- ]

noun

1. an act or instance of isolating. isolating.
2. the state of being isolated. isolated.
3. the complete separation from others of a person suffering from contagious or infectious disease; quarantine.

   Synonyms: segregation

4. the separation of a nation from other nations by isolationism.
5. Psychoanalysis. a process whereby an idea or memory is divested of its emotional component.
6. Sociology. social isolation.

Other Words From

• anti-iso·lation adjective
• posti·so·lation adjective
• rei·so·lation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of isolation¹

First recorded in 1825–35; isolate + -ion

Synonym Study

See solitude.

Example Sentences

This chilling response underscores an uncomfortable reality: Immigrants do not live in isolation.

From Los Angeles Times

Tyranny and illiberalism thrive in isolation, they thrive in fear, they thrive in folks saying: I’m just going to stop.

From Slate

A letter sent to the Israeli government demanded the country end the isolation of the besieged north, where aid groups warn that civilians are being starved amid Israel’s military offensive.

From BBC

In their request for a lenient sentence, Teixeira's lawyers argued in court filings that the airman was the target of bullying while in high school and his military unit, and that he had suffered from isolation.

From BBC

This sense of isolation only increased after both his grandparents died within a short space of time.

From BBC

Related Words

• confinement
• desolation
• remoteness
• segregation
• solitude