isolationist

American

[ahy-suh-ley-shuh-nist, is-uh-] / ˌaɪ səˈleɪ ʃə nɪst, ˌɪs ə- /

noun

a person who favors or works for isolationism.

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of isolationists or isolationism.

to be accused of isolationist sympathies.

Other Word Forms

anti-isolationist noun
unisolationist adjective

Etymology

Origin of isolationist

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65; isolation + -ist

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Countries have become more isolationist manufacturing-wise, so they need to generate more electricity locally.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

The first concerns Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute, which supports an isolationist U.S. foreign policy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

The United States, traditionally isolationist and safely sheltered by two vast oceans, had emerged from World War Two as the leader of the free world.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2025

“Not unless we want to become isolationist to a degree that is unthinkable,” Walker added.

From Seattle Times • May 10, 2024

Well, there were a few men who did not feel content with that comfortable isolationist climate.

From The Invisible Government by Smoot, Dan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023