isolation

noun

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

Definition of isolation

: the action of isolating : the condition of being isolated

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Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of isolation in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

In a press conference on Tuesday, the Kerala State Health Minister K.K. Shailaja said that the 23-year-old man was in an isolation ward at a hospital in the Ernakulam district in Central Kerala and is currently in a stable condition. — Faiz Akthar, CNN, "India fears new outbreak of lethal Nipah virus," 5 June 2019 Manafort may be held in isolation for protective reasons, but that would not carry the same conditions as being held in solitary confinement, which is a punitive designation. — NBC News, "AOC gets it wrong in tweet about Manafort 'solitary confinement'," 5 June 2019 Participate in an upbeat dance class that begins with a warm up to strengthen, stretch and improve flexibility and then moves into footwork, rhythm and isolations. — Alan Goch, sun-sentinel.com, "Palm Beach central and north county events for June 5-11," 5 June 2019 This isolation was often coupled with the burden of diplomacy. — Asma Uddin, Teen Vogue, "An Excerpt From ‘When Islam is Not a Religion: Inside America’s Fight for Religious Freedom’," 26 May 2019 But the health repercussions of chronic isolation can be dramatic, according to Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Ph.D., a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University. — Maggie Bullock, Vogue, "Is Telefitness the Wave of the Future? Or Another Way Tech Is Keeping Us Apart?," 15 May 2019 Clipped into her bike, Fursteneau tapped into a social network thousands of women strong that sliced through the stay-at-home mom isolation slowly taking over her psyche. — Leah Groth, Glamour, "Peloton’s Online Community Is Changing the Fitness Game for Moms," 9 Apr. 2019 Sound familiar yet? Devastated by the outcome of the case, Maya spends eight years living on a horse farm in near isolation. — Heather Finn, Good Housekeeping, "Is 'The Fix' Based on a True Story? Here's the Truth Behind Marcia Clark's New Show," 18 Mar. 2019 Iran may some day buy new fighter jets, but until the regime’s political isolation ends, the country’s air force simply must make do. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Iran’s Aging American-Made Jets Could Fly Through the 2040s," 11 Feb. 2019

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.

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Last Updated

9 Jun 2019

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Time Traveler for isolation

The first known use of isolation was in 1833

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More Definitions for isolation

isolation

noun

English Language Learners Definition of isolation

: 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

See the full definition for isolation in the English Language Learners Dictionary

isolation

noun

iso·la·tion | \ ˌī-sə-ˈlā-shən

Kids Definition of isolation

: the act of keeping apart from others : the condition of being kept apart from others … it was the cows who were responsible for the wood's isolation …— Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting