isolation

UK: /ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃ^ən/ US: /ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃən/ ,(ī′sə lā′shən, is′ə-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

i•so•la•tion  (ī′sə lā′shən, is′ə-), n. 

1. an act or instance of isolating.
2. the state of being isolated.
3. the complete separation from others of a person suffering from contagious or infectious disease;
   quarantine.
4. Government the separation of a nation from other nations by isolationism.
5. Psychology a process whereby an idea or memory is divested of its emotional component.
6. Sociology See social isolation. 

• isolate + -ion 1825–35

Synonyms

• 2. See solitude. 
• 3. segregation.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

isolation / ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃən/ noun

1. the act of isolating or the condition of being isolated
2. (of a country, party, etc) nonparticipation in or withdrawal from international politics
3. social separation of a person who has or is suspected of having a contagious disease
   Compare quarantine
4. (as modifier): an isolation hospital
5. a lack of contact between persons, groups, or whole societies
6. the failure of an individual to maintain contact with others or genuine communication where interaction with others persists
7. Also called: isolation exercise a physical exercise that is designed to benefit a single joint or muscle group
8. in isolation ⇒ without regard to context, similar matters, etc

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

i•so•late /v. ˈaɪsəˌleɪt; n., adj. -lɪt, -ˌleɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -lat•ed, -lat•ing. 

1. to set or place apart;
   separate so as to be alone:
   He was isolated in a little cubicle by himself.
2. Medicine to keep (an infected person) from contact with noninfected persons;
   quarantine.
3. Chemistry, Microbiology to obtain (a chemical substance or microorganism) in a separate or pure state, not in combination with other substances.

i•so•la•tion /ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃən/  n. 

[uncountable] a desperate feeling of isolation in the big city.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

i•so•late  (v. ī′sə lāt′, is′ə-;n., adj. ī′sə lit, -lāt′, is′ə-), v., -lat•ed, -lat•ing, n., adj. 
v.t. 

1. to set or place apart;
   detach or separate so as to be alone.
2. Medicine to keep (an infected person) from contact with noninfected persons;
   quarantine.
3. Chemistry, Microbiology to obtain (a substance or microorganism) in an uncombined or pure state.
4. Electricity to insulate.
5. Radio and Television, Show Business [Television.] to single out (a person, action, etc.) for a camera closeup.

n. 

6. Linguistics a person, thing, or group that is set apart or isolated, as for purposes of study.
7. Psychology a person, often shy or lacking in social skills, who avoids the company of others and has no friends within a group.
8. Genetics, Biology [Biol.] an inbreeding population that is isolated from similar populations by physiological, behavioral, or geographic barriers.
9. Linguistics a language with no demonstrable genetic relationship, as Basque.
10. something that has been isolated, as a by-product in a manufacturing process:
    an isolate of soy flour.

adj. 

11. isolated;
    alone.

• back formation from isolated 1800–10

i′so•la′tor, n.