alienation

noun

alien·​ation ˌā-lē-ə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce alienation (audio)
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 familyS. L. Halleck
2
: a conveyance of property to another

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
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The filmmaker may have set the movie in a Finnish location known to few but the universal story rings a bell on alienation and the healing powers of community that seems fit to strike a chord with audiences far beyond Finland. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025 Even doing it for a week improves your sense of well-being and decreases your sense of alienation and loneliness. Nbc News, NBC news, 25 May 2025 Reports released by two Harvard task forces last month concluded that both Jewish and Muslim students feared for their safety during the 2023-24 academic year and had deep feelings of alienation and academic censorship on campus. Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 22 May 2025 With no physical evidence and the child as the only reporting witness, abuse cases are difficult to prove especially if the alleged abuser makes claims against the other parent of parental alienation or trying to gain a custodial advantage in a child custody dispute. Patricia Fersch, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for alienation

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of alienation was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Alienation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alienation. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

alienation

noun
alien·​ation ˌā-lē-ə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce alienation (audio)
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
: 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 familyS. L. Halleck

More from Merriam-Webster on alienation

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