English Reference
Adjective

estranged

adj.
C1 Advanced US /ɛˈstɹeɪndʒd/ UK /ɛstɹˈeɪndʒd/ es·tranged

adj.no longer close or friendly with someone, especially a family member. It describes a relationship where people have stopped talking to each other.

adj.describing a person who is no longer living with or on friendly terms with a spouse, relative, or close associate. Often used predicatively after 'become' or 'remain'.


SIMPLE

He has been estranged from his brother for five years.

CONTEXTUAL

After a long argument about the family business, the two sisters became estranged and did not speak for a decade.

COMPLEX

The novel explores the painful journey of an estranged father attempting to reconcile with his daughter after years of silence and mutual resentment.

Usage

Typically takes the preposition 'from' to indicate the person or group no longer in contact.

Pitfall
He is estranged with his family.He is estranged from his family.

The adjective 'estranged' collocations with 'from', not 'with'.

Usage estranged husband · estranged from his dad

That included online messages in which she ranted about her in-laws as well as her estranged husband Simon Patterson, at one point calling him a "deadbeat".

BBC News· 17 Aug 2026

Glyn Razzell, 66, was jailed for life in 2003 after being convicted of murdering his estranged wife Linda, who disappeared in Swindon the year before.

BBC News· 14 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated