insulate

verb in·su·late \ ˈin(t)-sə-ˌlāt \

Updated on: 20 May 2018

Definition of insulate

insulated; insulating

: to place in a detached situation : isolate; especially : to separate from conducting bodies by means of nonconductors so as to prevent transfer of electricity, heat, or sound

See insulate defined for English-language learners

See insulate defined for kids

Examples of insulate in a Sentence

They used a special type of fiberglass to insulate the attic.
a material that is able to insulate against cold
The company has tried to insulate itself from the region's political turmoil.
I wish I could insulate my children from painful experiences.

Recent Examples of insulate from the Web

Moreover, bond investors generally consider these securities bulletproof, as issuers bake in credit protections to insulate buyers from losses.

— adam tempkin, BostonGlobe.com, "Consumers skip more high-rate auto payments than during crisis," 14 May 2018
One tactic the White House has used is to insulate the president's past personal behavior from the presidency itself, setting up an outside team of lawyers to deal with it.

— gregory korte, USA TODAY, "Analysis: How the growing Trump scandal could affect his presidency," 13 May 2018
The applications will be scored by an anonymous panel which the state has said is necessary to insulate the process from political influence.

— sam wood, Philly.com, "Two lawmakers determined to get Philly an indoor marijuana farm," 8 May 2018
Ms Haspel is a highly regarded career officer, who can be expected to insulate the CIA from political interference by a president who does not recognise boundaries.

— The Economist, "Gina Haspel must give answers before becoming the CIA boss," 26 Apr. 2018
When the modern Fed was created in 1935, legislative designers wanted to insulate central bankers from undue partisan political interference.

— peter conti-brown, WSJ, "The Quarles Quarrel Hurts the Fed," 23 Apr. 2018
Indeed, the proximate upshot of post-Watergate congressional investigations into Nixon’s abuses of power was to further insulate the FBI from direct political control.

— matthew yglesias, Vox, "James Comey isn’t the hero we deserve. But he’s the hero we need," 18 Apr. 2018
Mueller appears to be attempting to insulate his investigation from potential interference himself.

— Bloomberg.com, "Zuckerberg Testifies Before Senate Panel," 10 Apr. 2018
David Carpenter, a physician who directs the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany, S.U.N.Y., explained the purpose of these cells is to insulate nerve fibers throughout the body.

— charles schmidt, Scientific American, "New Studies Link Cell Phone Radiation with Cancer," 29 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'insulate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of insulate

Latin insula

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First Known Use: circa 1741

in the meaning defined above

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insulate Synonyms

INSULATE Defined for English Language Learners

insulate

verb

Definition of insulate for English Language Learners

: to add a material or substance to (something) in order to stop heat, electricity, or sound from going into or out of it
: to prevent (someone or something) from dealing with or experiencing something : to keep (someone or something) separate from something unpleasant, dangerous, etc.

INSULATE Defined for Kids

insulate

verb in·su·late \ ˈin-sə-ˌlāt \

Definition of insulate for Students

insulated; insulating

1 : to separate from others : isolate

At home he insulates himself from the city.

2 : to separate a conductor of electricity, heat, or sound from other conductors by means of something that does not allow the passage of electricity, heat, or sound