estrangement

American  

[ih-streynj-muhnt] / ɪˈstreɪndʒ mənt /

noun

1. the state of being alienated or separated in feeling or affection; a state of hostility or unfriendliness.

   Since the summer there’s been a rift in the family over something that my daughter posted online, and I still can't figure out how this estrangement occurred over something so silly.

   Diplomatic relations between the two nations were officially restored after more than five decades of estrangement.

2. the state of being separated or removed.

   After years of forced estrangement, the families of people living in the vast refugee camp are finally beginning to get some news of their relatives there.

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Other Word Forms

• self-estrangement noun

Etymology

Origin of estrangement

estrange ( def. ) + -ment ( def. )

Example Sentences

A researcher in family estrangement for more than 10 years, psychologist Dr Lucy Blake said there is no data to indicate estrangement is rising, but there has been a huge shift in dialogue.

From BBC

Pope Francis negotiated a resumption of diplomatic relations with Washington under president Barack Obama in 2015, after decades of Cold War estrangement.

From Barron's

“We Don’t Talk” appears to address her estrangement from her older sister, Haylie, while “Weather for Tennis” describes her tendency to keep the peace as a child of divorce.

From Los Angeles Times

To help families avoid a rift, I reached out to Joshua Coleman, a psychologist and senior fellow at the Council on Contemporary Families and an expert on how to avoid and repair estrangements.

From The Wall Street Journal

Danni and Jordan are both keen to stress that estrangement can sometimes be necessary.

From BBC

Related Words

• alienation
• disaffection
• disunity
• hostility
• schism
• separation