Kizártság

Kizártság is a Hungarian noun that denotes the state of being excluded or isolated from participation, access, or contact. It is commonly used to describe social exclusion—when individuals or groups are deprived of opportunities or treated as outsiders—as well as a broader sense of personal or communal isolation from a network or resources. The term can refer to both concrete barriers and subjective experiences of being cut off from society.

Etymology and usage: The word is formed from kizár, meaning to exclude or shut out, plus the abstract-noun suffix -tság. It emphasizes the condition or quality of exclusion rather than the act itself (kizárás). In everyday Hungarian, kizártság often conveys social and psychological dimensions of being kept apart, though it can appear in formal discussions of marginalization or institutional exclusion. In legal or technical language, more specific terms such as kizárás or elkülönítés may be preferred depending on context.

Contexts and nuance: In sociology and political discourse, kizártság describes marginalization of minorities, barriers to education or employment, or limited civic participation. It can also refer to geographic or economic isolation of a region. On a personal level, kizártság captures feelings of alienation from family, community, or culture. The term is primarily social and cultural; for medical isolation, Hungarian usually uses elkülönítés or karantén.

See also: social exclusion, marginalization, isolation.