alienation

noun

alien·​ation ˌā-lē-ə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce alienation (audio)
ˌāl-yə-
1
: a withdrawing or separation of a person or a person's affections from an object or position of former attachment : estrangement
alienation … from the values of one's society and familyS. L. Halleck
2
: a conveyance of property to another

Examples of alienation in a Sentence

after years of alienation from her family, she became reconciled with them when her father fell ill
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The animated voyage, with its themes of alienation and aliens, arrives at a time when immigrants in this country, and Latinos at large, have become the target of brutal ICE raids that ignore due process and racially profile citizens and undocumented people alike. Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025 These were stories about fear as metaphor: adolescence, alienation, the fragile armor of identity. Jp Mangalindan, Time, 19 June 2025 First and foremost, we are targeted by fear: of scarcity, of alienation, of violence, of loss. Cindy Juyoung Ok june 26, Literary Hub, 26 June 2025 Much has been made of the rise of incel culture (involuntarily celibate) but there’s a much broader and moderate feeling of alienation amongst young boys. Kian Bakhtiari, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for alienation

Word History

Etymology

Middle English alienacioun "transference of property rights, derangement, estrangement," borrowed from Anglo-French alienaciun, alienation, borrowed from Latin aliēnātiōn-, aliēnātiō "transference of ownership, estrangement, hostility" (mentis aliēnātiō "mental disorder, insanity"), from aliēnāre "to transfer (goods, property) to another, render hostile, estrange" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at alienate

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of alienation was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Alienation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alienation. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

alienation

noun
alien·​ation ˌā-lē-ə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce alienation (audio)
ˌāl-yə-ˈnā-
1
: a withdrawing or separation of a person or a person's affection from an object of past attachment
2
: a transfer of property to another

Medical Definition

alienation

noun
: a withdrawing or separation of a person or a person's affections from an object or position of former attachment
alienation … from the values of one's society and familyS. L. Halleck

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