insulate
Americanverb (used with object)
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insulates,
present (3rd person singular)
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insulated,
past participle, past
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insulating
present participle
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to cover, line, or separate with a material that prevents or reduces the passage, transfer, or leakage of heat, electricity, or sound.
to insulate an electric wire with a rubber sheath; to insulate a coat with down.
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to place in an isolated situation or condition; segregate.
verb
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to prevent or reduce the transmission of electricity, heat, or sound to or from (a body, device, or region) by surrounding with a nonconducting material
-
to isolate or detach
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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preinsulateverb (used with object)
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reinsulateverb (used with object)
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noninsulatingadjective
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superinsulatedadjective
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uninsulatedadjective
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well-insulatedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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insulatesimple
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insulatessimple
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have insulatedperfect
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has insulatedperfect
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am insulatingprogressive
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are insulatingprogressive
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is insulatingprogressive
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have been insulatingperfect progressive
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has been insulatingperfect progressive
Past
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insulatedsimple
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had insulatedperfect
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was insulatingprogressive
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were insulatingprogressive
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had been insulatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of insulate
First recorded in 1530–40, insulate is from the Latin word insulātus made into an island. See insula, -ate 1
Explanation
The verb insulate means "protect from heat, cold, or noise," like when you add an extra layer of clothing to insulate yourself from the cold. You can insulate a wall to keep sound out, or insulate your house to keep cold air from getting inside. So, to insulate is to protect against unwanted changes. Sometimes this can mean keeping out the influence or beliefs of other people, like a parent who tries to insulate his children from people who have different cultures or beliefs. You can see this meaning in the origin of insulate: the Latin word insula, meaning “to make into an island.”
Vocabulary lists containing insulate
Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer - Introductory
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This Week in Words: February 12 - 16, 2018
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Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer - Middle School
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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.
See Examples For:
The Netherlands hopes to insulate the court by activating the European Union’s “blocking statute,” a rule that would ban EU companies from complying with the sanctions and thereby expose them to U.S. secondary sanctions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
Seeking to insulate herself from voter anger at Berlin, she has publicly challenged the national government on its plans to tighten pension rules and over soaring fuel prices.
From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026
"You won't necessarily be able to insulate every single wall," Morton says, "but by even doing the 50% best is actually massive in terms of energy bills."
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
A huge wrinkle is that larger cities and metro areas benefit from economies of scale that help insulate them: they can afford dedicated OT security staff and redundant control systems.
From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026
I could stay and help protect Oak, help insulate him from Madoc’s influence.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
Brookfield’s focus on real assets and infrastructure, with limited software exposure, insulates it from market turmoil.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026
She’s looking into options like a cover that insulates the water, hybrid heaters and new electric heating models.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 18, 2026
The historical record here may show that being a lame duck insulates a Fed chair from political pressures.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 19, 2026
"Investors and global central banks have... favoured gold as their reserve currency of choice, which they believe insulates them from US policy dependence," says Wall.
From BBC ● Jan. 30, 2026
They bought a parka made of reindeer skin, because reindeer hair is hollow and insulates well; and the hood was lined with wolverine fur, because that sheds the ice that forms when you breathe.
From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman
Oligodendrocytes have traditionally been regarded as beneficial because they help keep nerve fibers insulated and functioning properly.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026
Industry has shown some resilience, while France’s relatively low dependence on imported fossil fuels has insulated it from some of the energy price shock when compared to other European economies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
Those theories have found roots even in an insulated community with limited access to computers, Weiser said.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
Analysts say the group's Chinese patronage and business ties have allowed Wa State to remain relatively insulated from the civil war consuming the rest of Myanmar since a 2021 military coup.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
“Blacks are much more likely to live near poor segregated areas. They are much less insulated from crime and other manifestations of social disarray that grow from racial exclusion.”
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
People on low incomes may also be eligible for grants to help with insulating their homes, and there are local schemes offering grants for solar panels, heat pumps and the like.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
But Apple’s “go-slow” strategy comes in handy on days when investor concerns about AI overspending flare up, insulating the stock from downturns that hit the semiconductor space.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
As transistors shrink, making this insulating layer thinner can improve electrical control.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026
Legal experts said any claim by Hearn could be complicated by the grand jury indictment against him, which the Justice Department could point to as insulating its decision to bring a prosecution.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
Inside everything is tinted blue from the tarp that covers the walls, insulating the structure against the cold.
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
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