Verb: to separate someone or something from others so it stands alone. Noun (technical): a substance or organism that has been separated out for study.
From Italian *isolato* “isolated,” from *isola* “island,” from Latin *insula* “island.” It originally meant making something into an “island” by cutting it off from its surroundings.
To isolate something is to turn it into a kind of island—socially, chemically, or medically. Scientists isolate bacteria, and people can feel isolated too, showing how physical separation and emotional loneliness share the same core idea.
Social isolation has been used historically as a tool of control against women, including restricting their movement, education, and communication outside the household. Language around “isolating” behavior appears in discussions of domestic abuse, where women’s social networks are deliberately cut off.
When using “isolate” about people, be mindful of contexts like domestic violence and caregiving, where isolation can have gendered patterns. Avoid blaming isolated individuals; focus on structures and behaviors that produce isolation.
["separate","segregate","analyze independently"]
In discussions of abuse and coercive control, recognize how women have built informal networks and support systems to resist isolation, even when formal institutions failed to protect them.
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