insulate

verb

in·​su·​late ˈin(t)-sə-ˌlāt How to pronounce insulate (audio)
insulated; insulating

transitive verb

: 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

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 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.
They are insulated with feathers from ducks or geese called down. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025 Using different looks helped insulate Gold’s (and Marquette’s) vulnerability at the rim and allowed aggressive guards like Stevie Mitchell and Chase Ross to hunt for steals from within the structure of a zone concept. Jim Root, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025 Both hot and cold water pipes in those areas should be insulated. Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 9 Oct. 2025 The drastic weather conditions, over time, led to the development of an insulating kind of coat—one that’s tough to come by, difficult to source, and challenging to harvest. Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for insulate

Word History

Etymology

Latin insula

First Known Use

circa 1741, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of insulate was circa 1741

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Insulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insulate. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

insulate

verb
in·​su·​late ˈin(t)-sə-ˌlāt How to pronounce insulate (audio)
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
Etymology

from Latin insula "island" — related to isle, isolate, peninsula

More from Merriam-Webster on insulate

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