detached

Detached is an adjective with several related senses. It can describe something that is not physically joined to something else, or a state of emotional distance or disinterest. The term also functions as the past participle of the verb detach.

In architecture and real estate, a detached house or dwelling is a stand-alone residence that does not share walls with another dwelling and typically sits on its own lot with space from neighboring properties.

In medicine, detached commonly refers to retinal detachment, a potentially sight-threatening condition in which the retina separates from the underlying tissue. Symptoms may include sudden or progressive vision loss, flashes of light, or floaters. It is a medical emergency requiring prompt evaluation. Risk factors include aging, high myopia, eye injuries, and certain eye diseases. Treatments aim to reattach the retina and may involve laser therapy, cryopexy, scleral buckling, or vitrectomy, depending on the case and location of the detachment.

In everyday language, detached can describe emotional distance or objectivity, such as feeling detached from a situation or taking a detached, analytical stance. The connotation ranges from neutral to negative, depending on context and tone.

Etymology traces detached to detach, from Latin detachare, meaning to pull apart or separate. The noun form detachment refers to the act or condition of being detached or the state of emotional reserve.