# isolate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈaɪ.sə.leɪt/ · frequency rank #13,000

## Definitions
1. To set apart or cut off from others.
2. To place in quarantine or isolation.
3. To separate a substance in pure form from a mixture.
4. To insulate, or make free of external influence.
5. To separate a pure strain of bacteria etc. from a mixed culture.
6. To insulate an electrical component from a source of electricity.
7. To self-isolate.

## Etymology
Back-formation from isolated, from French isolé, from Italian isolato, from Latin īnsulatus (whence also insulate), see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3).

## Easily confused with
- **isolated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/isolate-vs-isolated)
- **inflate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inflate-vs-isolate)
- **insulate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/insulate-vs-isolate)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ioslate`, `isloate`, `isoalte`, `isolaet`, `isolatte`, `isollate`, `isoltae`, `issolate`, `siolate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/isolate