alienated: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal to neutral; common in academic, psychological, sociological, and literary contexts.
Quick answer
What does “alienated” mean?
Feeling isolated, estranged, or separated from a group, society, or emotional connection.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Feeling isolated, estranged, or separated from a group, society, or emotional connection.
Can describe a psychological state of detachment, a legal/economic transfer of property rights away from an owner, or a philosophical concept of losing one's essential nature.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. In formal/property law contexts, 'alienated' is standard in both.
Connotations
Slightly more literary/psychological in UK usage; slightly more common in sociological/political discourse in US usage.
Frequency
Comparable frequency. The noun 'alienation' is more frequent than the adjective 'alienated'.
Grammar
How to Use “alienated” in a Sentence
[Subject] feels alienated[Subject] is/became alienated from [object/group][Agent] alienated [patient]alienated by [cause]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “alienated” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The new policies alienated many long-standing party members.
- He succeeded in alienating his entire family with his behaviour.
American English
- The CEO's comments alienated a key segment of the customer base.
- She didn't want to alienate her allies by taking a firm stance.
adjective
British English
- The data shows a generation of young people who feel alienated from mainstream politics.
- He grew increasingly alienated from his colleagues after the dispute.
American English
- Many veterans feel alienated when they return to civilian life.
- She felt alienated in the new school where she knew no one.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Describes employees who feel disconnected from company goals or culture.
Academic
Used in sociology (alienated labour - Marx), psychology (emotional alienation), political science.
Everyday
Describes feeling out of place in a social group or family.
Technical
Legal: transfer of title/property; Psychiatry: a symptom of certain disorders.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “alienated”
- Using 'alienated' to mean 'weird' or 'extraterrestrial'. Confusing 'alienated' (state) with 'alienating' (causing the state). Incorrect preposition: 'alienated *by society' (cause) vs. 'alienated *from society' (separated from).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Loneliness is one aspect, but 'alienated' specifically implies a breakdown of a previous connection or a failure to belong to a group you should or want to be part of (society, family, workplace). It's more active estrangement than passive solitude.
Yes, in legal/formal contexts. 'The land was alienated from the crown estate' means its ownership was transferred to another party. This is a different, older sense of the word.
'Isolated' is more physical or situational (being alone). 'Alienated' is more psychological/social, involving feelings of rejection, misunderstanding, or active separation from a group you have/desire a connection with. You can be isolated without feeling alienated (e.g., a happy hermit), and you can feel alienated in a crowd.
Both are correct but differ. 'Alienated **from**' describes the person/thing you are separated from (He felt alienated *from* his peers). 'Alienated **by**' describes the agent or cause of the alienation (He was alienated *by* their cruel jokes).
Feeling isolated, estranged, or separated from a group, society, or emotional connection.
Alienated is usually formal to neutral; common in academic, psychological, sociological, and literary contexts. in register.
Alienated: in British English it is pronounced /ˈeɪ.li.ə.neɪ.tɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈeɪ.li.ə.neɪ.t̬ɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A prophet is not without honour save in his own country (conveys feeling alienated in one's homeland)”
- “To be (like) a fish out of water (conveys feeling alienated in a situation).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an ALIEN who feels ATED (like 'hated' or 'outdated') - an alien who feels hated is isolated and alienated.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL BONDS ARE PHYSICAL CONNECTIONS (broken/severed). BELONGING IS BEING INSIDE A CONTAINER (feeling outside).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'alienated' CORRECTLY?