estrangement

Everyday

1. Estrangement is when people who used to be close, especially family members, stop speaking or seeing each other. tree →
2. It is a feeling of being distant or cut off from someone or something. tree →

In the lessons

Adult life seen by a child: an estranged parent, grandparent or sibling; also in stories and news about families and countries. A sad, serious word. Phrases: estrangement from, years of estrangement, estranged father.

Examples

• After years of estrangement, the brothers finally met again. tree →
• Her estrangement from her aunt began with an argument. tree →
• The novel is about a girl and her estranged father. tree →
• Estrangement can make holidays hard for some families. tree →
• The two countries ended their estrangement with a peace deal. tree →
• He felt a strange estrangement from his old friends after moving away. tree →
• Do you not consider the harm you may be doing yourself, and fear that malicious people, seeking the cause of your estrangement, may guess the real one?" tree →

Note

Formal. Estranged is the common adjective («her estranged husband» means they are separated). It is nobody's fault to talk about in class; family situations are private and often complicated.