isolation

American  

[ahy-suh-ley-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

The entire property carries an unmistakable sense of balance—privacy without isolation, grandeur without pretense.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

One examined metabolism, while the other explored neural connections, yet both showed that radial glia do not make their decisions in isolation.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 4, 2026

The irony, as the region stumbled into the ’80s, is that between its wealth and carefully cultivated isolation, Marin came to exemplify the ethos of conformist America: every man for himself.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

“Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of the world do not condone power politics, conflict and confrontation, or isolation and backwardness.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

He felt the isolation that came from being different.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

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

Shayewitz drew up all kinds of plays for Wells, isolations and post-ups and everything in between.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 16, 2023

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

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

From New York Times ● Jun. 16, 2022

It is absolutely necessary to the progress of our civilization that these isolations should be overcome, that the community should become aware of itself collectively and should think as a whole.

From Mankind in the Making by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

Related Words

• confinement
• desolation
• remoteness
• segregation
• solitude