insulation
Americannoun
-
insulations
plural
-
material used for insulating.
-
the act of insulating.
-
the state of being insulated.
noun
-
Also called: insulant. material used to insulate a body, device, or region
-
the act or process of insulating
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of insulation
Explanation
Insulation is the process of keeping heat, sound, or electricity from spreading. It's also the material used to do so. If you can hear your neighbor snoring at night, you might need better sound insulation. Your thermos of hot chocolate stays warm when it's freezing outside because the thermos provides insulation. Similarly, the insulation in an ice chest keeps your sodas and food cool at the beach, even when you're being scorched by the sun. Insulation can also refer to a state of being detached or isolated. If you stay at home and avoid TV, the internet, and phone calls, you are in a state of insulation.
Vocabulary lists containing insulation
Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Physical Science - Energy - Introductory
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Physics - Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
A City of Edinburgh Council report later found a previous building survey carried out in May 2022 identified a series of issues, including "combustible cladding and insulation, combustible decking and internal fire-stopping issues".
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
According to researchers, any toxic airborne chemicals would likely stem from the charred foam insulation, metal exterior, burned solar panels and any lithium batteries that might have been present inside the warehouse.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
Standing up as debris fell around him, he waited for the dust and insulation to settle.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
He was also given a guided tour of a local company that uses UK hemp crops to make insulation material.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
When the cold was extreme, even the excellent insulation of the tent could not keep it out, and we lay in our bags as close to the stove as possible.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Almost all of the external wall insulations delivered under the scheme – 98% – required repairs, according to the a report by the National Audit Office.
From BBC ● Apr. 22, 2026
Recycled IT equipment and household goods make up the building's cladding, signs are from used coffee beans and insulations is provided by sheep wool.
From BBC ● Dec. 10, 2021
Choosing a winter jacket may seem straightforward, but there’s an almost dizzying array of styles, fabrics and insulations to sift through.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 6, 2021
These special foams expand with less force than some regular expanding foam insulations.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 3, 2010
It is specially adapted for use in hot climates, and is the only cell in which jars may touch each other and yet retain their insulations.
From Electric Bells and All About Them A Practical Book for Practical Men by S. R. Bottone
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
