French word

aliénation

Pronunciation

IPA/aljenasjɔ̃/

Meaning

  • feminine nounalienation

Example

Je ressens de l'aliénation au travail.

I feel a sense of alienation at work.

Illustration for aliénation (alienation)

More examples

Son sentiment d'aliénation le pousse à s'isoler.

His feeling of alienation drives him to isolate himself.

Core concept

A person behind an invisible social barrier, cut off from shared belonging.

Common phrases

  • sentiment d'aliénation

    feeling of alienation

  • aliénation au travail

    alienation at work

Similar words

solitude: A state of loneliness that comes from being by oneself.
isolement: A state of distance from others, whether physical or emotional, accompanied by loneliness.
rejet: A sense of being rejected, unaccepted, or negatively judged by others.
exclusion: A state of being excluded from a group, place, or activity.

Definition in French

État ou sentiment d'être séparé des autres, d'un groupe ou de la société, avec impression de perte de lien et d'appartenance.

Word origin

French aliénation comes from Latin alienatio, from alienare, which meant 'to transfer' and also 'to estrange'.

Usage tips

  • Aliénation is relatively formal; everyday French often uses se sentir isolé or être exclu for a personal feeling.

Other meanings

  • transfernoun
  • insanitynoun

Opposites

Related words

  • aliéneralienateverb
  • aliénéalienatedadjective

Word lists with this word