isolation
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the state of being alone or away from other people.
the state of being detached or separated from others, often resulting in a lack of social contact.
Simple“Many elderly people suffered from isolation during the long winter months.”
In context“The geographical isolation of the mountain village preserved its unique dialect for centuries, though it made access to modern healthcare difficult.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
keeping a sick person away from others so a disease does not spread.
the separation of a patient with a contagious disease from others to prevent the spread of infection.
Simple“The hospital put the patient in isolation until they were sure the virus wasn't spreading.”
In context“Strict isolation protocols were implemented in the infectious disease ward to mitigate the risk of a hospital-wide outbreak.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
the process of separating a specific substance or germ from a mixture.
the process of obtaining a specific element, compound, or microorganism from a complex mixture or sample.
Simple“The isolation of the active ingredient from the plant took several weeks of lab work.”
In context“The successful isolation of the new bacterial strain allowed researchers to sequence its genome and identify potential antibiotic resistance.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
when a country has no friendly or official relations with other nations.
the state of a country lacking diplomatic, economic, or social relations with other nations.
Simple“The country faced international isolation after it broke the peace treaty.”
In context“The regime's refusal to comply with international standards led to a period of profound diplomatic isolation and severe economic sanctions.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 05 C2 Proficiency
a way the mind protects itself by separating a memory from the feelings it causes.
a defense mechanism where a person separates a thought or memory from its associated emotional charge.
Simple“He used isolation to talk about the accident without feeling any of the pain.”
In context“In clinical psychology, isolation of affect is often observed in patients who recount traumatic events with a striking lack of emotional resonance.”
Synonyms
Usage social isolation
“Instead, the removal of visitors adds to the town’s growing isolation.”
“Those caring for significantly disabled children are exposed to chronic levels of extreme stress that are “compounded by other factors like poverty, domestic abuse, or social isolation”, said O’Dwyer, who led the research.”
First attested in 1800. From French isolation, from isolé, placed on an island (thus away from other people). Equivalent to isolate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.