/ˌæliˈeɪʃən/ AL-ee-AY-shən

Definitions

1. noun

the state of being alienated or the process of alienating something or someone, often implying a sense of isolation, loneliness, or estrangement

“The alienation he felt after moving to a new city took months to overcome.”

2. noun

the act of taking or seizing something as one’s own, often in a way that is considered unjust or oppressive

“The company’s decision to take control of the land was seen as a form of alienation by the local community.”

3. noun

the state of being separate or detached, often in a way that is considered unhealthy or unproductive

“The alienation of the worker from their labor was a key theme in the Marxist critique of capitalism.”

4. verb

to separate or detach something or someone from something else, often in a way that is considered unjust or oppressive

“The government’s policies alienated the community from their ancestral land.”

5. verb

to take or seize something as one’s own, often in a way that is considered unjust or oppressive

“The company alienated the assets from the bankrupt business.”