estrangement

noun

es·​trange·​ment ə̇ˈstrānjmənt 

eˈ-

plural -s

: the act of estranging or the condition of being estranged : alienation especially in friendship

the small difference of opinion snowballed into mutual resentment and resulted in final and total estrangement

the hero, a middle-aged intellectual and student, has passed through successive estrangements from bourgeois life

—Time

resulted in the almost complete estrangement of arts and letters from the sciences

—Scientific American Reader

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

1. Expanded definitions
2. Detailed etymologies
3. Advanced search tools
4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now