alienation

noun

alien·​ation ˌā-lē-ə-ˈnā-shən 

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 family.

—S. L. Halleck

2

: a conveyance of property to another

Synonyms of alienation

• estrangement

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

Brenay Kennard, a lifestyle content creator with nearly 3 million followers on TikTok, is at the center of a civil lawsuit that has made national headlines, in which she is accused of criminal conversation and alienation of affection. —Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025

What drew you to the topic of Ted Kaczynski’s followers and alienation? —Lorena O'Neil, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2025

Conceived as a kaleidoscopic mosaic spanning from Kafka’s birth in 19th-century Prague to his death in post–World War I Vienna, Holland’s film captures both the man and the myth, revealing the writer’s creative vision, alienation, and lasting cultural imprint. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025

Where the first half of the 1600 conversation explored how young men are drifting toward the right through grievance, alienation and algorithmic content, this installment challenges Democrats to confront their own inertia. —Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025

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

Phrases Containing alienation

• self-alienation

Rhymes for alienation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

alienation

noun

alien·​ation ˌā-lē-ə-ˈnā-shən 

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

alien·​ation ˌā-lē-ə-ˈnā-shən, ˌāl-yə- 

: 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 family

—S. L. Halleck