noun
-
the act of secluding or the state of being secluded
-
a secluded place
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of seclusion
1615–25; < Medieval Latin sēclūsiōn- (stem of sēclūsiō ) < Latin sēclūs ( us ) (past participle of sēclūdere to seclude ) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
Seclusion means being separate, and apart from others, in a quiet kind of way. If you want seclusion, try a private island. The word seclusion implies privacy as well as separateness. An island with no other islands around it or a cabin in the middle of a forest will offer you seclusion if you need to get away from other people. Some nations have a policy of seclusion — they do not allow people, products, or ideas to cross their borders and enter the country.
Vocabulary lists containing seclusion
American Born Chinese
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Case Closed: Clud, Clus
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Aretha Franklin (1942 - 2018) Tribute List
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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.
In “The Oyster Diaries,” Delery runs into Claude, a “portly fifty-year-old” living in seclusion in an overgrown plantation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
Mitch returns to seclusion but is finally able to write poetry again.
From Salon • Feb. 5, 2026
“This is more than a home … it’s a private sanctuary, brought back to life with care, style, and enduring character. A rare opportunity for those seeking space, seclusion, and authentic Spanish charm.”
From MarketWatch • Jan. 6, 2026
A written submission from the CLC said that "seclusion should never be used as an intervention in an education setting".
From BBC • May 22, 2025
It seemed to me, rather senselessly, that I was allowing him a few more moments of seclusion.
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
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.
