Isolation refers to the act or condition of separating something from others or a state of being alone. It can describe physical separation, social or informational seclusion, or a strategy to minimize interference. In general usage, it denotes a deliberate or involuntary detachment that affects access, interaction, or exposure.
"The island’s isolation made it difficult for people to receive supplies."
"During the quarantine, the family practiced isolation to prevent the spread of illness."
"The antenna’s isolation from nearby metal reduced interference in the signal."
"Politicians debated the isolation of certain data to protect privacy."
Isolation comes from the Late Latin isolatio, from Latin in- ‘not’ + solatus ‘solved, unified’ … actually the root is from isus Latin ‘solus’ meaning alone, combined with the -tion noun-forming suffix. The term appears in English in the 17th century in scientific contexts (e.g., isolation of a sample) and in medicine (social or therapeutic isolation). The sense of “state of being separated from others” evolves through the centuries as technology and social structures introduce new forms of separation (geographic, electrical, informational). The mathematical and statistical use of isolation also arises as systems seek to isolate variables or signals from noise, reflecting the core idea of separation. First known uses often tie to physical separation or quarantine, while later development broadens to abstract or metaphorical separation (isolate a variable; isolation in computing, isolation in quantum physics). In modern usage, isolation has both neutral and negative connotations, depending on context: clinical isolation, political isolation, or emotional isolation, each rooted in the fundamental concept of removing contact or influence. Historically, the word travels from Latin roots through Romance languages into English, with the earliest documented English instances appearing in technical or medical prose, gradually expanding to everyday usage in contemporary discourse.
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Words that rhyme with "Isolation"
-ion sounds
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You pronounce it as /ˌaɪ.səˈleɪ.ʃən/ or /ɪˌsəˈleɪ.ʃn̩/ in some varieties. The stress sits on the third syllable: i-so-LA-tion. Start with the long I diphthong in some accents (/ˈaɪ/ or /ɪ/), then a [sə] or [sɪ] schwa, then /ˈleɪ/ with a clear long A, and finish with /ʃən/ or /ʃn̩/. In US, UK, and AU you’ll hear the same core pattern, but the initial vowel may be shorter in rapid speech. Tip: emphasize /ˈleɪ/ to ensure the main meaning is heard in sentences like “isolation protects us.” Audio reference: use a standard pronunciation dictionary or Pronounce resource linked to Cambridge/Oxford entries.
Common errors include collapsing the middle syllable into a quick /lə/ or misplacing stress on the second syllable: i-SES-ation or i-sə-LAY-shən. Another frequent issue is pronouncing /ʃən/ as /ʃn/ without a little vowel, leading to an abrupt end. To correct: (1) keep the /ləɪ/ sequence with a clear long A; (2) maintain the secondary /ə/ in the first syllable and avoid turning /ɪ/ into a strong vowel; (3) land the /ʃən/ with a light schwa before the final nasal, rather than a hard /n/ immediately after /ʃ/. Practice slow, then increase pace while keeping the three-stress rhythm.
In US, you’ll hear a prominent /ˌaɪ.səˈleɪ.ʃn̩/ with rhotic /r/-less accent and sometimes a lighter /ɪ/ in the first syllable. UK English often uses /ˌaɪ.səˈleɪ.ʃən/, with a pronounced final schwa or a reduced /ən/ depending on formality, and less rhotic influence. Australian English tends to have a longer /ɪə/ or /eɪ/ in the /leɪ/ syllable and can show a slightly more pronounced final /ən/ or /n̩/ with a stronger alveolar touch. Across all three, the critical elements are the stress on the third syllable, the /ə/ vowels, and the /ʃən/ ending; the exact vowel length and rhoticity vary but the core pattern remains recognizable.
The main challenges are the length of the word and the sequence /ləɪ.ʃən/ or /ləɪ.ʃn̩/. Coordinating the diphthong in /leɪ/ with the adjacent schwa can be tricky, especially in fast speech. Also, the final /ʃən/ cluster can feel slippery when the tongue nears the palate for /ʃ/ and then immediately closes for /n/; you may produce a light /n/ or a lingering /ən/ that muddles the ending. Practice by segmenting: i - so - la - tion, then blend while keeping the mouth relaxed and the jaw slightly lowered for the /ɪ/ or /ə/ vowels.
A word-specific feature is the /ɪ/ vs /aɪ/ onset in different dialects: some speakers (especially in American usage in rapid speech) may reduce the first syllable to a shorter /ɪ/ or even /ə/ in casual speech (i-suh-LAY-shn). The unique element is maintaining the /ˌaɪ/ or /ɪ/ onset while preserving the part of speech as a four-syllable word with a stress on the third syllable; listening for the secondary stress shift helps in distinguishing careful pronunciation from casual liaisons.
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