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Synonyms

insulation

American  
[in-suh-lay-shuhn, ins-yuh-] / ˌɪn səˈleɪ ʃən, ˌɪns jə- /

noun

  • insulations
    plural
  1. material used for insulating.

  2. the act of insulating.

  3. the state of being insulated.


insulation British  
/ ˌɪnsjʊˈleɪʃən /

noun

  1. Also called: insulant. material used to insulate a body, device, or region

  2. the act or process of insulating

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns


Etymology

Origin of insulation

First recorded in 1790–1800; insulate + -ion


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.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing insulation

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:

Although this insulation is essential for normal brain function, the findings suggest that excessive or abnormal myelin may become part of the problem.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026

These fatty molecules make up the membranes surrounding neurons, contribute to the myelin insulation that protects nerve fibers, and play important roles in communication between brain cells.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026

A surveyor working for Luke's housing association, Clarion, found wet insulation inside a wall and further inspections identified elevated moisture levels.

From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026

Wings carved out of wood using laser-cutting machines were then filled with insulation foam.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Every morning he ties his shoes, packs newspaper inside his coat as insulation against the cold, and begins interrogating the world.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

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

They are ornamented insulations for an identical current.

From Fantazius Mallare A Mysterious Oath by Wallace Smith

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