ENGLISH
REFERENCE

isolate

v. · n. · adj.
US //ˈaɪsəˌɫeɪt// iso·late
  1. 1 to separate people or things (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to separate one person or thing from a group so they are alone.

    to set apart or detach an individual or object from others to prevent contact or influence.

    Example

    The high mountains isolate the small village from the rest of the country.

    Example

    The political crisis served to isolate the regime from its former allies, leaving the leadership with few diplomatic options.

    Usage

    Often used in the passive voice to describe a state of being alone.
  2. 2 medical quarantine (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    to keep a person or animal away from others to stop a disease from spreading.

    to place an individual in quarantine or medical isolation to prevent the transmission of infectious agents.

    Example

    The hospital had to isolate the patient to prevent the virus from spreading to others.

    Example

    Public health protocols required the authorities to isolate any passengers displaying symptoms of the new strain upon arrival.
Show 3 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 to extract a substance (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Academic Science

    to separate a single substance or chemical from a mixture to get it in a pure form.

    to separate a specific substance, chemical, or microorganism from a complex mixture or culture.

    Example

    Scientists were able to isolate the gene responsible for the plant's color.

    Example

    The laboratory succeeded in isolating the active compound from the rare tropical bark, allowing for further pharmacological testing.

    Usage

    Commonly takes a direct object representing the substance being purified.
  2. 4 something separated (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Academic

    a person or thing that has been separated from a larger group.

    an individual, population, or substance that has been separated or exists in isolation.

    Example

    The researcher studied a specific isolate of the bacteria found in the soil.

    Example

    The study focused on a genetic isolate within the island population that showed unique resistance to the local climate.
  3. 5 alone or separate (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Literary

    being alone or separated from others.

    existing in a state of isolation; solitary or detached.

    Example

    He lived an isolate life in a cabin deep in the woods.

    Example

    The poet described the isolate peak of the mountain, standing far above the clouds in silent majesty.
Origin

Back-formation from isolated, from French isolé, from Italian isolato, from Latin īnsulatus (whence also insulate), see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3).

© 2026 English Reference