Isolation means being separated or cut off from others. When you're in isolation, you're alone, away from the people and activities around you. A sick student might stay in isolation at home to avoid spreading germs to classmates. A scientist might work in isolation in a remote research station, far from cities and crowds.

Someone in isolation is like an island surrounded by water, disconnected from the mainland. During a blizzard, a mountain town might find itself in isolation when snow blocks all the roads leading in or out.

Isolation can be chosen or forced. Some people seek isolation when they need to think deeply or work without distractions. A writer might spend a week in isolation at a quiet cabin to finish a novel. But isolation can also be lonely and difficult.

Scientists use the word precisely too. They might isolate a chemical compound, meaning they separate it from everything else to study it closely. In this sense, isolation means pulling one thing out from a mixture so you can examine it on its own.