English Reference
adjective

isolated

adj.
US /ˈaɪsəˌɫeɪtəd/ UK /ˈaɪsəlˌeɪtɪd/ iso·lat·ed

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    far away from other places, buildings, or people.

    physically detached or remote from others; situated in a location that is difficult to access.

    Simple

    The hikers stayed in an isolated cabin deep in the mountains.

    In context

    The village remained isolated for weeks after the heavy snowfall blocked the only mountain pass connecting it to the valley.

    Usage

    Often used to describe geographical locations or social states.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    happening only once or very rarely; not part of a pattern.

    occurring as a single instance or an exceptional case rather than as part of a broader trend or pattern.

    Simple

    The police said the crime was an isolated incident and the town was safe.

    In context

    While the software crash was frustrating, the developers insisted it was an isolated occurrence caused by a rare hardware conflict.

    Usage

    Commonly collocates with 'incident', 'case', or 'occurrence'.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

    separated from a larger group or body for study.

    referring to a biological or chemical substance that has been extracted or a condition occurring without other symptoms.

    Simple

    The scientists studied the isolated virus to understand how it spreads.

    In context

    The laboratory analyzed the isolated compound to determine its efficacy against the specific bacterial strain identified in the patient.

    Usage

    Used as a technical adjective in biology, chemistry, and clinical medicine.

Usage isolated incident · isolated rural · isolated area

The ocean restricts movement among islands, allowing isolated populations to adapt to different environments and, at times, diverge into new species.

Phys.org· 17 Aug 2026

Polling day was largely peaceful, with queues reported in many areas and only isolated delays.

BBC News· 14 Aug 2026

A rendering into English of French isolé.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin French isolé
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated