estrangement

UK: /ɪˈstreɪndʒmənt/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

es•tranged /ɪˈstreɪndʒd/   adj. 

1. unfriendly or hostile to (another);
   alienated from:
   his estranged wife; estranged from her family.

es•trange•ment, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

es•trange  (i strānj′), v.t., -tranged, -trang•ing. 

1. to turn away in feeling or affection;
   make unfriendly or hostile;
   alienate the affections of:
   Their quarrel estranged the two friends.
2. to remove to or keep at a distance:
   The necessity for traveling on business has estranged him from his family.
3. to divert from the original use or possessor.

• Medieval Latin exstrāneāre to treat as a stranger. See strange
• Middle French, Old French estranger; cognate with Portuguese estranhar, Spanish estrañar, Italian straniare
• 1475–85

es•trange′ment, n. 
es•trang′er, n. 
Synonyms

Estrange, alienate, disaffect share the sense of causing (someone) to turn away from a previously held state of affection, comradeship, or allegiance. Estrange often implies replacement of love or belonging by apathy or hostility:
erstwhile lovers estranged by a misunderstanding.
Alienate often calls attention to the cause of antagonism or separation:
His inconsiderate behavior alienated both friends and family.
Disaffect usually refers to relationships involving allegiance or loyalty rather than love or affection:
disaffected workers, demoralized by ill-considered management policies.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

es•tranged  (i strānjd′), adj. 

1. displaying or evincing a feeling of alienation; alienated.

• estrange + -ed² 1545–55

es•trang•ed•ness  (i strān′jid nis, -strānjd′-), n.