insulation
Americannoun
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material used for insulating.
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the act of insulating.
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the state of being insulated.
noun
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Also called: insulant. material used to insulate a body, device, or region
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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
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Physical Science - Energy - Introductory
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Physics - Introductory
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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.
"We can't install air conditioning everywhere. It's a false solution that makes the problem worse," he retorted, calling for better insulation of buildings.
From Barron's • Jun. 25, 2026
"Poor insulation and outdated windows mean classrooms can become uncomfortably hot, which has a direct impact on pupils' ability to learn and regulate," she says.
From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026
On top of that, squirrels and mice have damaged the insulation.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
The living space is heavily shielded with acoustic laminated glass and sound-dampening insulation in every cranny.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
My own body heat plus three layers of clothing kept me warm, and the rover's insulation is top-notch.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
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.
