What does "alienation" mean?
The act of alienating.
Alienation
/ˌeɪli.əˈneɪʃən/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of alienating.
- Grammar: alienation is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: estrangement, abalienation, aberration, abnormality.
- Useful contrasts: domestic relations, in-school belonging, mutual belonging.
- Usage evidence: Alienation is a common theme of twentieth-century literature.
How to use "alienation"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "alienation" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "alienation" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "alienation" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "alienation" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "alienation" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "estrangement" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "alienation", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of alienating. uncountable, usually
"The alienation of that viewing demographic is a poor business decision."
- 2 the action of alienating; the action of causing to become unfriendly wordnet
- 3 The state of being alienated. uncountable, usually
"I refer to the state of our divisions and alienations of spirit on account of religion."
- 4 (law) the voluntary and absolute transfer of title and possession of real property from one person to another wordnet
- 5 Emotional isolation or dissociation. uncountable, usually
"But these domestic alienations are not confined to those who once moved in the higher orders of society--the monthly registers announce almost as many divorces as marriages, and the facility of separation has rendered the one little more than a licentious compact, which the other is considered as a means of dissolving."
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 the feeling of being alienated from other people wordnet
- 7 Verfremdungseffekt. uncountable, usually
- 8 separation resulting from hostility wordnet
- 9 The transfer of property to another person. uncountable, usually
"The most usual and universal method of acquiring a title to real estates is that of alienation, conveyance, or purchase in it's limited sense: under which may be comprized any method wherein estates are voluntarily resigned by one man, and accepted by another; whether that be effected by sale, gift, marriage settlement, devise, or other transmission of property by the mutual consent of the parties."
- 10 The estrangement of people from aspects of their human nature as a consequence of the division of labour and living in a society of stratified social classes. Marxism, uncountable, usually
Antonyms
domestic relationsin-school belongingmutual belongingmutual sympathy
Example
"Alienation is a common theme of twentieth-century literature."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "alienation"?
Common synonyms include: estrangement, abalienation, aberration, abnormality, abstraction, abulia.
How do you use "alienation" in a sentence?
Alienation is a common theme of twentieth-century literature.
How do you pronounce "alienation"?
Pronounced /ˌeɪli.əˈneɪʃən/.
Etymology
From Middle English alienacioun, borrowed from Old French alienacion, itself borrowed from Latin aliēnātiōnem.