isolation

American  

[ahy-suh-lay-shuhn, is-uh-] / ˌaɪ səˈleɪ ʃən, ˌɪs ə- /

noun

• isolations
  plural

1. 

   an act or instance of isolating.

2. the state of being isolated.

3. the complete separation from others of a person suffering from contagious or infectious disease; quarantine.

   Synonyms:

   segregation

4. the separation of a nation from other nations by isolationism.

5. Psychoanalysis. a process whereby an idea or memory is divested of its emotional component.

6. Sociology. social isolation.

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isolation British  

/ ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of isolating or the condition of being isolated

2. (of a country, party, etc) nonparticipation in or withdrawal from international politics

3. med

   1. social separation of a person who has or is suspected of having a contagious disease Compare quarantine

   2. ( as modifier )

      an isolation hospital

4. sociol a lack of contact between persons, groups, or whole societies

5. social psychol the failure of an individual to maintain contact with others or genuine communication where interaction with others persists

6. without regard to context, similar matters, etc

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Synonym Usage

See solitude.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• reisolation
  noun
• anti-isolation
  adjective
• postisolation
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• isolations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of isolation

First recorded in 1825–35; isolate + -ion

Explanation

Isolation means completely alone, like the stranded skiers who were in total isolation after an avalanche stranded them at the top of a mountain. People who live in isolation are completely cut off from the rest of the world, like the hermit who lives in a lonely mountain cabin because no one understands his desire to collect thimbles. A really contagious illness can land patients in isolation at their local hospital, kept separate from the rest of the hospital so they don't share their disease with the other patients. A country can exist in isolation, left alone because other nations don't agree with its policies.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

isolation isolations

Although loneliness and social isolation are often treated as the same thing in everyday conversation, researchers distinguish between them.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026

Next week, following his extradition to Germany and months in isolation in a high security prison, Serhii K will go on trial in Hamburg.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

Loneliness and social isolation are widespread in the United States.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026

The country has experience containing several Ebola outbreaks, including through surveillance, contact tracing and the isolation of suspected cases.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

This typically occurs when animals are isolated from each other by a physical barrier or another permanent form of isolation, ultimately leading to reproductive incompatibility.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

File on 4 Investigates the use of internal isolations in secondary schools in England and hears from parents and students who say such techniques are affecting their mental health.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026

One is designed to maximize space for Harden to operate pick-and-rolls or create offense out of isolations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 16, 2023

In the first and even second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, multi-week quarantines and isolations were common for many Americans, especially children.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 3, 2023

It features some bird motion — pecking isolations, swooping flocks.

From New York Times ● Jun. 16, 2022

Single file is the invariable rule in all these mountain excursions, and after a time the isolations of this mode of travelling adds to its wearisomeness.

From An American Girl Abroad by Adeline Trafton

Related Words

• confinement
• desolation
• remoteness
• segregation
• solitude