alienation

noun

alien·​ation ˌā-lē-ə-ˈnā-shən 

ˌāl-yə-

1

: a withdrawing or separation of a person or a person's affections from an object or position of former attachment : estrangement

alienation … from the values of one's society and family

—S. L. Halleck

2

: a conveyance of property to another

Synonyms

• disaffection
• disgruntlement
• estrangement
• souring

Examples of alienation in a Sentence

after years of alienation from her family, she became reconciled with them when her father fell ill

Recent Examples on the Web

This narrow focus fails to address the root causes of crises like mental health struggles, systemic inequities, or the societal alienation that can contribute to acts of violence. —Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024

Published in France in 1958 and the United States in 1959, the book of 83 photos taken across the country—everyday scenes of cowboys, nannies, storefronts and more, with visual undertones of politics, alienation, power and injustice—influenced an entire generation of photographers. —Donny Bajohr, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024

The artificial state is the factory farming of public life, the sorting and segmenting, the isolation and alienation, the destruction of human community. —Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

Per the synopsis: Aurora seeks to resist the loneliness, alienation, and ensuing small talk that begin to threaten her sense of self. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English alienacioun "transference of property rights, derangement, estrangement," borrowed from Anglo-French alienaciun, alienation, borrowed from Latin aliēnātiōn-, aliēnātiō "transference of ownership, estrangement, hostility" (mentis aliēnātiō "mental disorder, insanity"), from aliēnāre "to transfer (goods, property) to another, render hostile, estrange" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at alienate

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing alienation

• self-alienation

Kids Definition

alienation

noun

alien·​ation ˌā-lē-ə-ˈnā-shən 

ˌāl-yə-ˈnā-

1

: a withdrawing or separation of a person or a person's affection from an object of past attachment

2

: a transfer of property to another

Medical Definition

alienation

noun

alien·​ation ˌā-lē-ə-ˈnā-shən, ˌāl-yə- 

: a withdrawing or separation of a person or a person's affections from an object or position of former attachment

alienation … from the values of one's society and family

—S. L. Halleck