alienation
UK: ˌeɪ.li.əˈneɪ.ʃən | US: ˌeɪ.li.əˈneɪ.ʃən
n. the state of feeling isolated or estranged from others or one's surroundings
n. (law) the transfer of property or rights to another party
n. (psychology) a sense of disconnection from oneself or society
alienation = alien<foreign/other> + ation<noun suffix>
- alien: From Latin alienus ("belonging to another"), derived from alius ("other"). In English, it retains the core idea of "otherness" or separation.
- ation: A suffix forming nouns denoting a state or action (e.g., "isolation," "creation").
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin alienare ("to estrange"), combining alienus ("other") with the verb-forming suffix -are. Over time, it evolved in English (via Old French aliener) to encompass both legal transfer ("alienation of property") and psychological estrangement ("alienation from society"). The dual meaning reflects the core logic of "othering"—whether literal (property) or emotional (identity).
His alienation from his family grew after years of unresolved conflicts.
The novel explores themes of social alienation in modern urban life.
The court ruled the alienation of the estate to be unlawful.
Prolonged isolation can lead to feelings of alienation.
Marx discussed worker alienation under capitalist systems.