Meaning & use
well insulated
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivenot comparable
Having thick or effective material that stops heat, sound, or electricity from passing through.
Grammar: Used after a linking verb or before a noun; it already contains 'well', so you do not add 'very'.
Patterns
- be well insulated
- a well-insulated building
- well insulated against something
The new apartment is well insulated, so our heating bills are low.
They built a well-insulated studio to keep the music from disturbing the neighbors.
The tank is well insulated against the cold.
adjectivenot comparablefigurative
Protected from criticism or outside influence by strong barriers or support.
Grammar: Often used figuratively about people, groups, or systems.
Patterns
- be well insulated from something
- well insulated against criticism
The committee seemed well insulated from public anger.
Their wealth kept them well insulated against the effects of the recession.
Common combinations
- well insulated walls
- Well insulated walls keep the room warm in winter.
- well insulated home
- A well insulated home uses less energy.
- well insulated against noise
- The windows are well insulated against noise.
- poorly insulated
- The old cottage is poorly insulated and feels damp.
Synonyms and how they differ
- lagged
- British and technical; used mainly for pipes and tanks wrapped in material.
- protected
- Wider and more general; it does not specifically mean protected from heat or sound.
Opposites
Word family
- insulate verb
- To cover or surround something to stop heat, sound, or electricity passing.
- insulation noun
- Material or the act of stopping heat, sound, or electricity from passing.
- insulator noun
- A material or object that does not let heat or electricity pass easily.
Commonly confused: well insulated or well isolated?
well insulated vs well isolated
Well isolated means kept apart from other people or things, not protected from heat or sound.
Practice
The loft is ______, so the upstairs rooms stay cool in summer.
Choose one answer.
The adjective phrase 'well insulated' describes the loft. 'Well insulating' would describe something that insulates, but the loft receives insulation rather than doing the insulating. 'Well insulation' and 'well insulator' are not grammatical adjective phrases.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “well insulated”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.