isolation
gb/ˌaɪsəlˈeɪʃən/ us/ˌaɪsəlˈeɪʃən/
B1
English
~ 8100
elszigeteltség, önmagában, összefüggéseiből kiragadva, elkülönítés, karantén, izolálás, leválasztás
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
in isolation from [someone/something]
After moving to the remote island, she struggled with feelings of isolation.
Miután a távoli szigetre költözött, nehezen küzdött meg az elszigeteltség érzésével.
The long winter can create a sense of isolation for people living in mountain villages.
A hosszú tél az elszigeteltség érzetét keltheti a hegyi falvakban élő emberekben.
Prisoners in solitary confinement often suffer from extreme social isolation.
Working from home all the time left him in isolation from his colleagues.
The government is trying to reduce the isolation of older people who live alone.
Learner examples
He lives in isolation in a small house in the mountains.
Elszigeteltségben él egy kis házban a hegyekben.
The old woman felt deep isolation after her husband died.
Az idős asszony mély elszigeteltséget érzett, miután meghalt a férje.
Social isolation can be bad for your mental health.
During the storm, the village was in complete isolation.
The program helps people who are at risk of isolation.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "isolation" when they only mean a positive, peaceful time alone. In that case, "solitude" or "privacy" may be better. They also sometimes confuse "isolation" with "insulation" (used for keeping heat or sound in or out).
Meaning
state of being cut off from others
Collocations
social isolation
|live in isolation
|a sense of isolation
|complete isolation
|years of isolation
|emotional isolation
Synonyms
loneliness (focuses more on the sad feeling of being alone, while isolation can be more neutral or physical.)
|
seclusion (suggests being apart from others in a quiet or private way, sometimes by choice and not always negative.)
Antonyms
companionship (emphasizes having people around you and sharing time with them, which is the opposite of being in isolation.)
Themes
emotions
|health
|daily life
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
a state where a person, group, or place is away from other people and has very little contact with them
The state in which a person, group, or place is separated from others and has little or no social contact or communication with them.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[something] in isolation
These results look worrying in isolation, but the long-term trend is positive.
Önmagukban ezek az eredmények aggasztónak tűnnek, de a hosszú távú tendencia pozitív.
The quote was taken in isolation and does not reflect what the speaker really meant.
Az idézetet összefüggéseiből kiragadva használták, ezért nem tükrözi, mit akart valójában mondani a beszélő.
You cannot judge the policy in isolation from the economic situation.
When viewed in isolation, the numbers seem small, but together they are significant.
The study examined each risk factor both in isolation and in combination with others.
Learner examples
Do not look at this number in isolation.
Ne vizsgáld ezt a számot önmagában.
Her comment sounds rude in isolation, but the full story is different.
Önmagában a megjegyzése udvariatlannak hangzik, de a teljes történet más.
We cannot see this problem in isolation from other problems.
In isolation, the change seems small.
The photo, in isolation, does not show what really happened.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this abstract, intellectual use of "in isolation" with the social sense of being alone. In sentences about data, results, or problems, "in isolation" usually means "on its own" or "without context," not physically alone.
Meaning
considering something on its own
Collocations
taken in isolation
|seen in isolation
|cannot be viewed in isolation
|look at [something] in isolation
|figures in isolation
|data in isolation
Synonyms
separateness (a more abstract word that also means being separate, often used in formal or academic writing.)
Antonyms
context (refers to all the other related facts and situations, which is what is missing when something is seen in isolation.)
Themes
thinking
|academia
|education
|science
|core_vocabulary
Definition
a state where something is looked at alone, without thinking about other things that are connected to it
The state of being considered, studied, or dealt with separately from other connected things or the wider context.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
3
elkülönítés
B2
karantén
B1
Usage pattern:
be in isolation for [length of time]
The patient was placed in isolation as soon as the test came back positive.
A beteget elkülönítésbe helyezték, amint megjött a pozitív teszteredmény.
Health authorities recommend five days of isolation after you develop symptoms.
Az egészségügyi hatóságok öt nap elkülönítést javasolnak a tünetek megjelenése után.
Because of the outbreak, several staff members are currently in self-isolation.
Visitors are not allowed in the isolation ward without protective clothing.
After a week in isolation, she finally tested negative and could return to work.
Learner examples
He stayed in isolation for seven days after he got COVID-19.
Hét napig karanténban maradt, miután elkapta a COVID-19-et.
The doctor put her in isolation to stop the virus spreading.
Az orvos elkülönítésbe helyezte, hogy megakadályozza a vírus terjedését.
Many people had to go into self-isolation during the pandemic.
You can leave isolation when you feel better and test negative.
The hospital has a special isolation room for sick patients.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "quarantine" and "isolation" as if they are always the same. In medical English, "isolation" usually means keeping people who are known or strongly suspected to be infectious away from others, while "quarantine" is often for people who may have been exposed but are not known to be sick yet.
Meaning
medical separation to stop infection
Collocations
self-isolation
|period of isolation
|patient isolation
|isolation ward
|isolation room
|strict isolation
Synonyms
quarantine (very close in meaning, but "quarantine" is often used more generally for keeping people or animals away after possible exposure, while "isolation" usually refers to confirmed or likely cases.)
Antonyms
integration (suggests bringing someone back into normal contact with others, the opposite of keeping them separate in isolation.)
Themes
health
|medicine
Definition
a state where a sick person, or someone who may be sick, stays away from other people so they do not spread disease
The state of keeping a person who has, or may have, an infectious disease separate from other people in order to prevent the spread of the disease.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
the isolation of [something] from [something]
The isolation of the virus was a major breakthrough for the research team.
A vírus izolálása nagy áttörést jelentett a kutatócsoport számára.
Good electrical isolation is essential to protect sensitive components from power surges.
A megfelelő elektromos leválasztás elengedhetetlen az érzékeny alkatrészek túlfeszültség elleni védelméhez.
The lab has special equipment for the isolation and purification of proteins.
Improved vibration isolation reduced the noise from the machinery.
Data isolation is used to prevent one system from interfering with another.
Learner examples
The scientist worked on the isolation of the new virus.
A tudós az új vírus izolálásán dolgozott.
Electrical isolation keeps the device safe from high voltage.
Az elektromos leválasztás megvédi a készüléket a nagy feszültségtől.
They use special tools for DNA isolation in the lab.
Vibration isolation helps to make the machine more quiet.
Good isolation of the signal makes the test more accurate.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "isolation" with "insulation" in technical speech. "Insulation" is usually about stopping heat, sound, or electricity from passing through something, while "isolation" is about separating one thing from others so it stands alone.
Meaning
technical process of separating something
Collocations
the isolation of the virus
|DNA isolation
|electrical isolation
|vibration isolation
|noise isolation
|isolation techniques
Synonyms
separation (a general word; "isolation" in this sense is more about separating something so it stands alone to be studied, used, or protected.)
Antonyms
integration (refers to combining things into a whole, which is the opposite of isolating one element from the others.)
Themes
science
|technology
Definition
the process of taking one thing away from others so it is alone, often in science or engineering
The act or process of separating a substance, organism, signal, or system from others so that it can be examined, used, or protected on its own, especially in scientific or technical contexts.
Grammar
Dictionary form
isolation
IPA
GB/ˌaɪsəlˈeɪʃən/
US/ˌaɪsəlˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
isol - a - tion (3 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (tion)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: isolation
- Plural: isolation, isolations
Word family
Forms
isolations
noun
Core family
isolate
verb B1
isolated
adjective
Advanced or less common
isolationism
noun C1
isolationist
noun
Expressions
live in isolation
1/lˈaɪv ˈɪn ˌaɪsəlˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
live with almost no contact
to live away from other people, with very little or no social contact
Examples
- He chose to live in isolation in a cabin in the woods.
- Many elderly people live in isolation and rarely see anyone.
- The family had to live in isolation while repairs were made to the only road to the village.
self-isolation
1/sˈɛlf ˌaɪsəlˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
staying home to avoid infection
when a person decides to stay at home and avoid other people so they do not spread or catch an illness
Examples
- Employees are asked to go into self-isolation if they test positive.
- During the pandemic, many people struggled with the mental effects of self-isolation.
- She began self-isolation as soon as she developed a fever and cough.
social isolation
1/sˈoʊʃəl ˌaɪsəlˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
having almost no social contact
a situation where a person has very little contact with other people and almost no social life
Examples
- Social isolation is linked to a higher risk of depression.
- The charity works to reduce social isolation among older adults.
- Long-term social isolation can affect both mental and physical health.
in isolation
1/ˈɪn ˌaɪsəlˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
on its own, without context
used to say that something is looked at or happens alone, without other things that are normally connected to it
Examples
- These figures look bad in isolation, but the overall picture is improving.
- In isolation, this decision seems strange, but it makes sense as part of the wider plan.
- The quote sounds harsh in isolation, but the full interview tells a different story.
in isolation
2/ˈɪn ˌaɪsəlˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Separately from others
Not together with other things or people; alone.
Examples
- You can't judge this problem in isolation; you need the full context.
- The data should not be viewed in isolation.