English Reference
Adjective

alienated

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈeɪɫiəˌneɪtɪd/ UK /ˈeɪliənˌeɪtɪd/ alien·at·ed

adj.feeling like you do not belong to a group or that you are not part of society. You feel lonely and different from the people around you.

adj.feeling isolated or estranged from a group, society, or one's own environment. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel' or 'become'.


SIMPLE

He felt alienated from his colleagues after the argument.

CONTEXTUAL

Many young people feel alienated by the current political system and choose not to vote.

COMPLEX

The rapid shift toward digital-only services has left many elderly citizens feeling alienated from a society that no longer accommodates their preferred methods of communication.

Usage

Often followed by the preposition 'from'.

Pitfall
He felt alienated of his family.He felt alienated from his family.

The adjective 'alienated' typically collocations with the preposition 'from', not 'of'.

You didn’t have to be literally left behind to be alienated by modernity.

The Guardian· 28 Aug 2026

He’s not alienated exactly, but somewhat out of step.

The Guardian· 24 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated