# alienation

/ˌeɪɫiəˈneɪʃən/ (US) · /ˌeɪliənˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/alienation
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. Marxist theory

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the feeling of being disconnected from your own work or human nature because of how society is organized.

For teachers: the estrangement of individuals from their human nature and the products of their labor, typically as a result of stratified social classes.

- In his early writings, Marx discussed the alienation of the worker under capitalism.
- The philosopher argued that modern assembly lines increase the alienation of laborers by reducing their work to repetitive, meaningless tasks.

### 3. theatre technique

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a style of acting or directing that makes the audience think about the play rather than getting lost in the story.

For teachers: a technique used to prevent the audience from identifying emotionally with the characters, encouraging a critical or objective perspective.

- The director used bright lights and direct speech to create an alienation effect.
- Brechtian alienation techniques, such as breaking the fourth wall, are designed to provoke intellectual reflection rather than mere emotional catharsis.

### 4. legal transfer

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

the legal act of giving or selling property to another person.

For teachers: the voluntary and absolute transfer of the title and possession of real property from one person to another.

- The contract prohibited the alienation of the land for twenty years.
- The deed contained a restrictive covenant that limited the owner's power of alienation to family members only.

## Examples

- Moving to a new country can cause a sense of alienation.
- The play uses bright lights and direct addresses to the audience to create a sense of alienation from the characters.
- Modern urban planning often inadvertently increases social alienation by prioritizing vehicle traffic over communal spaces where neighbors might naturally interact and form lasting bonds.

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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.