Meaning & use
isolation
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Meanings
noununcountable
The state of being separated from other people, places, or things.
Grammar: Uncountable; used with 'in' or 'from': in isolation, isolation from others.
Patterns
- in isolation
- isolation from someone/something
- social isolation
The remote village's isolation made it hard for residents to get medical care.
After moving to a new city, he experienced a deep sense of isolation.
The scientist studied the bacteria in isolation to avoid contamination.
noununcountablemedical
A medical practice of keeping a person or animal apart to prevent the spread of disease.
Grammar: Often used in medical contexts: in isolation, isolation ward.
Patterns
- in isolation
- isolation ward
- isolation period
Patients with the infection were kept in isolation for two weeks.
The hospital opened a new isolation unit for contagious cases.
Common combinations
- social isolation
- Loneliness and social isolation are serious health risks.
- in isolation
- The quote is misleading when read in isolation.
- isolation from
- His isolation from his family lasted for years.
- total isolation
- The prisoner was kept in total isolation.
Synonyms and how they differ
- seclusion
- Seclusion often suggests a deliberate choice to be alone; isolation can be forced or unwanted.
- solitude
- Solitude is usually peaceful and chosen; isolation often has a negative, lonely feeling.
- separation
- Separation is a broader term for being apart; isolation emphasizes being cut off from contact.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: isolation or insulation?
isolation vs insulation
Insulation means material that stops heat, sound, or electricity; isolation means being separated from others.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
'Isolation' is uncountable, so it does not take 'a' or 'an' and is not used in the plural. 'In isolation' is the fixed phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “isolation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.