quarantine
KWOR-uhn-teen
Quarantine (noun) means a period of enforced isolation imposed on people, animals, or goods to stop a disease from spreading. Example: “Travelers arriving from the outbreak zone were placed in quarantine for two weeks.”
noun
1
A period of enforced isolation imposed on people, animals, or goods to stop a disease from spreading.
"Travelers arriving from the outbreak zone were placed in quarantine for two weeks."
"The farm was put under quarantine after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease."
verb
1
To isolate someone or something to prevent the spread of disease or contamination.
"Health officials quarantined the entire ship."
"The antivirus software automatically quarantines suspicious files."
How to use quarantine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishKeeping someone or something separated from others until a health risk has passed.
Memory tip
Now used well beyond disease — a computer can quarantine a suspicious file, and a country can quarantine a shipment of goods.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
put in quarantine
strict quarantine
quarantine period
self-quarantine
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Word forms
- Plural
- quarantines
- Third person singular
- quarantines
- Past tense
- quarantined
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Travelers arriving from the outbreak zone were placed in _____ for two weeks.
Etymology
From Italian quarantina, "about forty," after the original 40-day isolation period imposed on ships arriving in Venice during plague outbreaks.
Related words
Rhymes for quarantine
See all rhymes for quarantine →Frequently asked questions
What does “quarantine” mean?
The word “quarantine” means a period of enforced isolation imposed on people, animals, or goods to stop a disease from spreading. In plain terms, keeping someone or something separated from others until a health risk has passed.
How do you pronounce “quarantine”?
“Quarantine” is pronounced KWOR-uhn-teen (/ˈkwɔɹ.ən.tin/ in IPA).
How do you use “quarantine” in a sentence?
Here is “quarantine” used in a sentence: “Travelers arriving from the outbreak zone were placed in quarantine for two weeks.”
What part of speech is “quarantine”?
Depending on how it is used, “quarantine” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “quarantine” come from?
The word “quarantine” comes from Italian. From Italian quarantina, "about forty," after the original 40-day isolation period imposed on ships arriving in Venice during plague outbreaks.
Is “quarantine” a common word?
“Quarantine” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “quarantine” have?
“Quarantine” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a period of enforced isolation imposed on people, animals, or goods to stop a disease from spreading.
What is the difference between quarantine and isolation?
Quarantine typically refers to separating people, animals, or goods who may have been exposed to a disease to see if they develop it, while isolation refers to separating those already confirmed to be sick. Quarantine is preventive; isolation is a response to a confirmed case.
Can quarantine apply to things other than people?
Yes, quarantine can apply to animals and goods as well as people, since its core meaning is enforced isolation to stop a disease or contamination from spreading. This is why shipments or imported animals can also be placed under quarantine.
Is quarantine used as both a noun and a verb?
Yes, quarantine works as a noun describing the period or state of enforced isolation, and as a verb describing the act of placing someone or something into that isolation.
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