alienation

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The feeling of being isolated or estranged from other people, a group, or one's own feelings.

   Grammar: Uncountable; can be used with 'a sense of': a sense of alienation.

   Patterns

   • alienation from someone
   • alienation among people
   • a sense of alienation

   Many immigrants experience a deep sense of alienation.

   His alienation from his family grew over the years.

   The novel explores the alienation of modern city life.

2. 2noununcountabletechnicalspecialist

   In sociology, the state of feeling disconnected from one's work, society, or oneself.

   Grammar: Used in academic contexts; often with 'from': alienation from labor.

   Patterns

   • alienation from work
   • alienation from society

   Marx wrote about the alienation of workers from the products they make.

   Sociologists study alienation in large organizations.

   The study measured alienation among factory employees.

3. 3noununcountablelegalformal

   The legal transfer of ownership of property to another person.

   Grammar: Formal legal term; often in the phrase 'alienation of property'.

   Patterns

   • alienation of property
   • alienation of land

   The contract prohibited the alienation of the estate.

   Alienation of the property required court approval.

Common combinations

sense of alienation

He felt a growing sense of alienation at work.

growing alienation

There is growing alienation between the two communities.

alienation from society

Her alienation from society led her to live alone.

political alienation

Low voter turnout reflects political alienation.

Synonyms and how they differ

estrangement

Estrangement often refers to a specific relationship that has broken down, while alienation can be a broader social or emotional state.

isolation

Isolation is about being physically or socially separated; alienation adds a feeling of not belonging or being cut off emotionally.

disaffection

Disaffection is more about loss of loyalty or contentment, often toward a government or organization; alienation is more personal and emotional.

Opposites

Word family

alienate verb

To make someone feel distant or unfriendly.

alienated adjective

Feeling isolated or estranged.

Commonly confused: alienation or alien?

Practice

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