isolé

Isolé is a French term that functions as an adjective and, less commonly, as a noun. As an adjective, isolé (masculine) and isolée (feminine) describe something or someone that is separated from others by distance, remoteness, or seclusion. It is used in contexts such as zone isolée, lieu isolé, paysage isolé, or personne isolée. The word derives from the verb isoler, which in turn comes from Latin insula “island,” reflecting the sense of keeping apart.

In science and mathematics, isolé has specialized meanings. In physics and thermodynamics, système isolé refers to an isolated system that does not exchange energy or matter with its surroundings. In mathematics, the term point isolé designates an isolated point in a topological space, meaning there exists a neighborhood around the point containing no other points of the space. The concept also appears in astronomy and geography, describing isolated galaxies, regions, or communities.

As a noun, isolé can denote a person who is socially or geographically isolated, used with neutral or, depending on context, slightly pejorative nuance.

The term appears in literature and media to convey remoteness or solitude, though it is most commonly encountered in French-language contexts rather than as a widely used international label.

See also: isolation, isoler, isolated point, isolated system.