Reading Theme:
Alienation: Definition, Examples, and Usage Guide
Meaning 1：Estrangement from a group (alienation)
alienation
/ˌeɪliəˈneɪʃən/
n.
The feeling of being separated from a group, like an outsider who cannot join in.
Estrangement from a group
➕
/ɪˈstreɪndʒmənt frəm ə ɡruːp/
n.
The emotional state of feeling disconnected, isolated, or separated from a group, community, or society, often accompanied by a sense of not belonging.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'alienare' (estrange), 'alienus' (foreign), 'alius' (other).
💡 Mnemonic
Associate 'alien' in 'alienation' – feeling like an alien, isolated from others.
📖 Example
After moving to a new country, he experienced a deep sense of alienation because he couldn't speak the language and felt disconnected from everyone.
After moving to a new country, he experienced a deep sense of alienation because he couldn't speak the language and felt disconnected from everyone.
🔗 Collocations
feel alienation from – to experience a sense of separation from a group
social alienation – the state of being isolated from society
sense of alienation – a feeling of not belonging
🔄 Synonyms
estrangement (n.) – the state of being alienated or separated
isolation (n.) – the process or fact of being isolated
disconnection (n.) – the state of being disconnected or separated
🚫 Antonyms
belonging (n.) – the feeling of being accepted and part of a group
integration (n.) – the act of bringing together people as equals
inclusion (n.) – the practice of including people who might otherwise be excluded
🌱 Derivatives
📖 Cultural Story
Marx used 'alienation' in sociology for workers' separation from labor. Today, it describes feeling estranged from a group.
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