isolation

noun iso·la·tion \ ˌī-sə-ˈlā-shən also ˌi- \

|Updated on: 18 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: isolation in a Sentence

Definition of isolation

: the action of isolating : the condition of being isolated

See isolation defined for English-language learners

See isolation defined for kids

Examples of isolation in a Sentence

the isolation of the mountain community
forced isolation always made the sociable child lonely

Recent Examples of isolation from the Web

These thing don't happen in isolation, and this won’t be the last of these types of conversations.

— james hebert, sandiegouniontribune.com, "For theater community, finding ways to reflect societal diversity onstage is more urgent than ever," 13 July 2018
For now the boys were in isolation to try to keep them safe from infections by outsiders.

— kaweewit kaewjinda and stephen wright, Houston Chronicle, "'Everyone is safe' after daring rescue of 13 in Thai cave," 11 July 2018
For now the boys were in isolation to try to keep them safe from infections by outsiders.

— kaweewit kaewjinda, The Seattle Times, "‘Everyone is safe’ after daring rescue of 13 in Thai cave," 10 July 2018
That case established a precedent that courts should consider an array of evidence even if each individual piece would be dubious when viewed in isolation.

— charlie savage, New York Times, "Brett Kavanaugh on the Issues: Abortion, Guns, Climate and More," 10 July 2018
No single record, in isolation, can be attributed to global warming.

— author: jason samenow, Anchorage Daily News, "Red-hot planet: Heat records have been set all over the world during the past week," 5 July 2018
Abdurrahman has lost influence in isolation, but his writings remain standard study material among pro-Islamic State groups.

— ben otto, WSJ, "Terror Leader’s Death Sentence Highlights Indonesia’s Harder Mood," 22 June 2018
Locking up their families might look cruel when viewed in isolation; but when understood in the broader context of a migrant crisis that threatens the safety and sovereignty of the American people, the policy is more than justified.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "We Owe Central American Migrants Much More Than This," 21 June 2018
When Amber was in isolation, Mike would don a gown, gloves and a mask and jump into the day's lesson.

— jim stingl, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Stingl: Children's Hospital became girl's school. On Sunday, she graduates with her class," 5 June 2018

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

First Known Use of isolation

1833

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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isolation Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of isolation

solitude, isolation, seclusion mean the state of one who is alone. solitude may imply a condition of being apart from all human beings or of being cut off by wish or circumstances from one's usual associates.

- a few quiet hours of solitude

isolation stresses detachment from others often involuntarily.

- the isolation of the village in winter

seclusion suggests a shutting away or keeping apart from others often connoting deliberate withdrawal from the world or retirement to a quiet life.

- lived in pastoral seclusion

ISOLATION Defined for English Language Learners

isolation

noun

Definition of isolation for English Language Learners

: the state of being in a place or situation that is separate from others : the condition of being isolated
: the act of separating something from other things : the act of isolating something