# alienated

/ˈeɪɫiəˌneɪtɪd/ (US) · /ˈeɪliənˌeɪtɪd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/alienated
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

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.

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

## Examples

- He felt alienated from his colleagues after the argument.
- Many young people feel alienated by the current political system and choose not to vote.
- 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He felt alienated of his family." but "He felt alienated from his family." — The adjective 'alienated' typically collocations with the preposition 'from', not 'of'.

## Usage notes

- Often followed by the preposition 'from'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.