Isolation
noun /ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃən/ — The condition of being separated — physically, socially, or emotionally cut off.
Definition
The process or fact of being separated from others; a state of complete remoteness from others; the feeling of being removed from social contact.
Beyond the definition
Isolation is the precision word for separation — it's clinical enough to name both the physical and the emotional condition. The isolated person is not just alone; they are severed from the network that sustains. Island shares its root.
Origin & history
From French isolé — isolated (from Italian isolato: isolated, from Latin insula: island). The island — the isolated thing is surrounded by what it cannot cross.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
His isolation was self-imposed at first and then became structural — the habits of withdrawal built walls.
The isolation of illness: the world continues at its usual speed while you are removed from it.
Isolation differs from solitude as severance differs from choice.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Isolation” when the meaning fits your context: The process or fact of being separated from others; a state of complete remoteness from others; the feeling of being removed from social contact.
Synonyms
separation, seclusion, loneliness, remoteness
Antonyms
connection, integration, community
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Power of Minimalist Emptiness
An adult sits alone in a vast, empty room with minimal furniture and a large, open view through a window.
The person sitting in a vast, empty room exemplifies isolation, as the lack of other people or objects highlights their state of being separated from the social world. The vastness of the space enhances the feeling of being remote and apart from others.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Isolation" mean?
Isolation is noun meaning: The condition of being separated — physically, socially, or emotionally cut off.. The process or fact of being separated from others; a state of complete remoteness from others; the feeling of being removed from social contact.
Where does the word "Isolation" come from?
From French isolé — isolated (from Italian isolato: isolated, from Latin insula: island). The island — the isolated thing is surrounded by what it cannot cross.