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noun Uncommon

alienation

ay-lee-uh-NAY-shuhn

Alienation (noun) means the feeling of being isolated or estranged from other people or society. Example: “Long hours of remote work left him with a growing sense of alienation.”

noun
1
The feeling of being isolated or estranged from other people or society.
"Long hours of remote work left him with a growing sense of alienation."
"The novel explores themes of alienation among immigrants."
2
(law) The transfer of property or rights to another owner.
"The contract restricted the alienation of the shares for five years."

How to use alienation

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA feeling of being disconnected or shut out, or formally, the legal transfer of property.

Common pairings
sense of alienation social alienation feelings of alienation

Word forms

alienations plural

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Long hours of remote work left him with a growing sense of _____.

Etymology

From Latin alienatio, from alienare ("to estrange" or "to transfer ownership").

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for alienation

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Frequently asked questions

What does “alienation” mean?

The word “alienation” means the feeling of being isolated or estranged from other people or society. In plain terms, a feeling of being disconnected or shut out, or formally, the legal transfer of property.

How do you pronounce “alienation”?

“Alienation” is pronounced ay-lee-uh-NAY-shuhn (/ˌeɪli.əˈneɪʃən/ in IPA).

How do you use “alienation” in a sentence?

Here is “alienation” used in a sentence: “Long hours of remote work left him with a growing sense of alienation.”

What part of speech is “alienation”?

“Alienation” is a noun.

Where does the word “alienation” come from?

The word “alienation” comes from Latin. From Latin alienatio, from alienare ("to estrange" or "to transfer ownership").

Is “alienation” a common word?

“Alienation” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “alienation” have?

“Alienation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the feeling of being isolated or estranged from other people or society.

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