Alienation
/ˌeɪliəˈneɪʃən/
nounIntermediate📊CommonEmotion
1 meaning1 question
Definitions
1
The state or experience of being isolated from a group or activity to which one should belong or in which one should be involved.
/ˌeɪliəˈneɪʃən/
nounnegativeIntermediate
Emotion
The state of feeling isolated and estranged
His alienation from his family caused him great sadness.
💡 Simply: Feeling alone and not connected to others.
More Examples
2
The feeling of alienation was palpable in the room.
How It's Used
Psychology
"The patient experienced profound alienation from society after their trauma."
Sociology
"Urban alienation is a common theme explored in modern sociology."
From Middle French aliéner, from Latin alienāre "to make another's, to estrange," from alius "other."
The word's usage has increased in the 20th and 21st centuries, reflecting the growing concerns about social isolation and disconnect.
Memory tip
Think of 'alien' – feeling separate and not belonging.
Word Origin
LanguageLatin
Original meaning
"to make another's, to estrange"
sense of alienationfeelings of alienationsocial alienation
Common misspellings
alienationgalienaionalienattion
Practice
Usage
30%Spoken
70%Written