noun

seclusion

sih-KLOO-zhun/sɪˈkluːʒn/

The state of being apart from other people.

The tall hedges give the empty garden nook a sense of seclusion.

A quiet isolated garden nook enclosed by tall hedges with one empty bench, privacy and separation from others, no text.

Etymology

seLatinapart

+clusLatinto shut

+ionLatinact or process

The image is of shutting someone apart from others. Originally naming exclusion, the word came to describe the state of keeping apart or being removed from public view, including privacy and isolation.

In context

30X40 Design Workshop11:57

our client expressed a desire for the house to act as a gathering place for friends and family but also that it accommodate seclusion and the need for retreat from others.

Architecture Short Course: How to Develop a Design Concept

More examples

After the trial, he lives in seclusion.
The high walls give the garden a sense of seclusion.
I need a little seclusion to finish this chapter.

Forms

seclusion

seclude verb — To keep apart from other people.

secluded adjective — Private and sheltered from other people.

Similar words

solitude: Emphasizes being alone rather than being sheltered from others.
isolation: Emphasizes separation and may suggest unwanted loneliness or restricted contact.
privacy: Means freedom from observation or intrusion, not necessarily being alone.