lone wolf

American  

[lohn woolf] / ˈloʊn ˈwʊlf /

noun

1. a person who prefers to live, act, or work alone or independent of others.

2. a criminal who acts alone (often used attributively).

   lone-wolf terrorists.

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lone wolf British  

noun

1. a person who prefers to be alone

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lone wolf Idioms  

1. A person who prefers to do without the company or assistance of others. For example, Her nursery school teacher described Beth as a lone wolf, an assessment her parents found astonishing. This expression alludes to the tendency of some species of wolf to hunt alone rather than in packs. [c. 1900]

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Etymology

Origin of lone wolf

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

Example Sentences

Southampton may try to argue that the spy was acting as a lone wolf, who took it upon himself to travel up to the Rockliffe Park training base 24 hours before the squad flew up.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

"My impression is he was a lone wolf," Trump said, adding that the suspect's motivation was not yet clear but he believed the gunman was "sick."

From Barron's • Apr. 26, 2026

Woods was seen as a lone wolf in his pomp.

From BBC • Sep. 26, 2025

Jepperd is introduced as a bit of a lone wolf whose emotional distance is at least in part due to his tragic past.

From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2023

Once Kapugen had told her that some wolves had tolerated a lone wolf until the day he stole meat from the pups.

From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George