1
: the period of time during which a person or animal that has a disease or that might have a disease is kept away from others to prevent the disease from spreading
a six-month quarantine
2
: the situation of being kept away from others to prevent a disease from spreading
The infected people were put into quarantine.
The cows will be kept/held in quarantine for another week.
The dog was put/placed under quarantine.
quarantines; quarantined; quarantining
: to keep (a person or animal) away from others to prevent a disease from spreading : to put or keep (a person or animal) in quarantine
The hospital quarantined the infected patients.
The dog was immediately quarantined.
Cite this Entry
“Quarantine.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/quarantine. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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