1. n. an individual who remains apart from others, either as a result of choosing to minimize his or her contact with others or through rejection and ostracism by other individuals or groups. For example, a person who is part of a work group but has no, very few, or very superficial social and personal relations with other group members would be an isolate.

2. n. in sociometry, any individual who is infrequently or never mentioned when group members report whom they like in their group. In measures of peer acceptance among children, an isolate typically is called a neglected child. See sociometric status.

3. vb. see isolation.