insulate

verb

in·​su·​late ˈin(t)-sə-ˌlāt 

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

Synonyms of insulate

• isolate
• separate
• segregate

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

Other simple upgrades, like installing low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators, can reduce water consumption, while insulating exposed hot water pipes helps keep water warmer for longer and improves efficiency. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 29, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026

But he’ll be insulated, with Nacua and Adams drawing top outside cornerbacks, and Daniels could find matchups where his 6-foot-2 size is enough of an advantage to mitigate the lack of speed. — Nate Atkins, New York Times, 28 July 2026

Even clean power leaders remain exposed Conventional wisdom suggests that countries generating more electricity from renewable sources should be largely insulated from fossil fuel price shocks. — Michael Adu Okyere, Time, 28 July 2026

Within the white space, high-density GPU racks require instantaneous, high-rate discharge to insulate servers against power spikes and dropouts. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin insula

First Known Use

1742, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for insulate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

insulate

verb

in·​su·​late ˈin(t)-sə-ˌlāt 

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