seclusion

noun

se·​clu·​sion si-ˈklü-zhən 

1

: the act of secluding : the condition of being secluded

2

: a secluded or isolated place

seclusive

si-ˈklü-siv 

-ziv

adjective

seclusively adverb

seclusiveness noun

Did you know?

With its prefix se-, "apart", seclusion has the basic meaning of a place or condition that's "closed away". A lone island may be secluded, and its seclusion might be what its owner prizes most about it. Presidents and their staffs may go into seclusion before making critical decisions. Monastery life is purposely secluded, and monks may have taken vows to live lives of seclusion. The deadly brown recluse spider prefers seclusion but is sometimes disturbed by very unlucky people.

Synonyms

• aloneness
• insulation
• isolation
• privacy
• secludedness
• segregation
• separateness
• sequestration
• solitariness
• solitude

Choose the Right Synonym for seclusion

solitude, isolation, seclusion mean the state of one who is alone.

solitude may imply a condition of being apart from all human beings or of being cut off by wish or circumstances from one's usual associates.

a few quiet hours of solitude

isolation stresses detachment from others often involuntarily.

the isolation of the village in winter

seclusion suggests a shutting away or keeping apart from others often connoting deliberate withdrawal from the world or retirement to a quiet life.

lived in pastoral seclusion

Examples of seclusion in a Sentence

the seclusion of women that occurs in some countries

I enjoyed the seclusion of the island.

Recent Examples on the Web

Or maximize the romance and sense of seclusion by arranging a private meal on the resort’s very own nearby deserted island, Bodu Finolhu. —Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

Written by Birney and Pete Ohs, the film follows Connor Marsh (Birney), a man living in seclusion with his dog Sandy. —Lauren Coates, Variety, 16 Dec. 2024

That process, undertaken in cloistered seclusion, provides not only the movie’s action but also its warily aggressive tone. —Graham Hillard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 Nov. 2024

What happens in 'Maria'? Callas (Jolie) is at the end of her life, living in seclusion in a luxurious apartment in Paris, accompanied only by her butler Ferruccio and maid Bruna, and is in declining health. —Amanda Luberto, The Arizona Republic, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin seclusion-, seclusio, from Latin secludere

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing seclusion

• in seclusion

Kids Definition

seclusion

noun

se·​clu·​sion si-ˈklü-zhən 

1

: the act of secluding : the state of being secluded

2

: a secluded place

seclusive

-siv 

-ziv

adjective

seclusively adverb

seclusiveness noun