solitary

[ sol-i-ter-ee ]

adjective

1. alone; without companions; unattended:

   a solitary passer-by.

   Synonyms: lone

2. living alone; avoiding the society of others:

   a solitary existence.

3. by itself; alone:

   one solitary house.

4. characterized by the absence of companions:

   a solitary journey.

5. done without assistance or accompaniment; done in solitude:

   solitary chores.

6. being the only one:

   a solitary exception.

7. characterized by solitude, as a place; unfrequented, secluded, or lonely:

   a solitary cabin in the woods.

   Synonyms: remote, retired, isolated

8. Zoology. living habitually alone or in pairs, as certain wasps. Compare social ( def 11 ).

noun

, plural sol·i·tar·ies.

1. a person who lives alone or in solitude, or avoids the society of others.

   Synonyms: recluse, hermit

2. a person who lives in solitude from religious motives.

   Synonyms: eremite, recluse, hermit

3. solitary confinement.

solitary

/ -trɪ; ˈsɒlɪtərɪ /

adjective

1. following or enjoying a life of solitude

   a solitary disposition

2. experienced or performed alone

   a solitary walk

3. (of a place) unfrequented
4. prenominal single; sole

   a solitary speck in the sky

5. having few companions; lonely
6. (of animals) not living in organized colonies or large groups Compare social gregarious

   a solitary elephant

   solitary bees

7. (of flowers) growing singly

noun

1. a person who lives in seclusion; hermit; recluse
2. informal.
   short for solitary confinement

Derived Forms

• ˈsolitariness, noun
• ˈsolitarily, adverb

Other Words From

• soli·tari·ly adverb
• soli·tari·ness noun
• un·soli·tary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of solitary¹

1300–50; Middle English < Latin sōlitārius alone, by itself, solitary, equivalent to sōlit ( ās ) solitude ( sōl ( us ) sole ¹ + -itās -ity ) + -ārius -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of solitary¹

C14: from Latin sōlitārius, from sōlus sole ¹

Example Sentences

Add six ODIs and a solitary T20i, it still makes for a dismal aggregate of international appearances for a batsman whose precocity had promised a long, dazzling career.

From BBC

Under the agreement, class members will no longer be placed in solitary confinement for low-level disciplinary charges and will be guaranteed timely disciplinary proceedings in an effort to prevent retaliatory behavior by prison guards.

From Los Angeles Times

A solitary, bookish boy whose dreams came true, after a fashion, who proved that movies really can change your life — albeit in ways you can never quite plan on.

From Los Angeles Times

He teeters here and there, his forward motion cut short by spins that twist his solitary form before it rights itself again.

From New York Times

“I was this very lanky and solitary, feverish, strange boy spending a lot of time in this bookshop,” he recalls.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• lone
• lonely
• singular