- the act of separating somebody/something; the state of being separate
- geographical isolation
- an isolation hospital/ward (= for people with infectious diseases)
- isolation (from somebody/something) The country has been threatened with complete isolation from the international community unless the atrocities stop.
- He lives in splendid isolation (= far from, or in a superior position to, everyone else).
- the isolation of the polio virus
Extra ExamplesTopics Healthcarec1- The country could face international isolation if it does not withdraw its troops.
- The figures should not be looked at in isolation but as part of a pattern.
- The tower stands in splendid isolation on the cliff edge.
- the enforced isolation of life in an Arctic weather station
- the social isolation of single mothers at home with their babies
- She lives in splendid isolation.
- He was taken to an isolation hospital.
- Her social isolation was made worse by her inability to drive.
- Isolation from family and friends also contributes to their problems.
- He had difficulties coping with the strain and isolation of being a single parent.
- an isolation hospital/ward
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- complete
- total
- relative
- …
- experience
- suffer
- suffer from
- …
- hospital
- room
- ward
- …
- in isolation
- in splendid isolation
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
- isolation (from somebody/something) the state of being alone or lonely
- Many unemployed people experience feelings of isolation and depression.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- complete
- total
- relative
- …
- experience
- suffer
- suffer from
- …
- hospital
- room
- ward
- …
- in isolation
- in splendid isolation
Word Originmid 19th cent.: from isolate, partly on the pattern of French isolation.
Idioms
See isolation in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee isolation in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishin isolation (from somebody/something)
- separately; alone
- To make sense, these figures should not be looked at in isolation.
- Words are pronounced differently in isolation from how they are pronounced in context.
Check pronunciation:
isolation