Words / B2

i-STRAYNJD/ɪˈstreɪndʒd/

Estranged means no longer close or living with a family member: estranged from; an estranged husband. Alienated is a close twin; separated is the legal/living-apart twin. An estranged parent in the case still needs the named court order if given. Mix-up: estranged vs strange; estranged vs stretched; do not write estranged for classmates who merely sit apart.

Meaning

No longer close or living with a family member (estranged from).

Examples

• “An estranged parent in the case still needs the named court order if given, the citizenship paper said.”
• “He became estranged from the party, which is the political-split sense — still name the year.”

Good to know

estranged from; an estranged spouse / parent. Close: alienated / separated. Trap: strange / classmates who sit apart. Citizenship, English, and PSHE. Family or group no longer close — name the relationship and the source fact.

Near in meaning

alienated, separated, cut off

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