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.

noun

plural

solitaries 

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

   solitary bees

   a solitary elephant

7. (of flowers) growing singly

noun

1. a person who lives in seclusion; hermit; recluse

2. informal,  short for solitary confinement

Other Word Forms

• solitarily adverb
• solitariness noun
• unsolitary 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

She’s touring behind the album this fall, playing solo shows — including a Nov. 20 date at the Highland Park Ebell Club — meant to preserve the album’s solitary vibe.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The solitary nests along the perimeter are thought to belong to larger, stronger fish capable of defending their territory alone.

Read more on Science Daily

Here you’ll see sea stacks in every shape, along with a dramatic, solitary tree to the north.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Writing is a solitary pursuit, and there are only so many shots of White playing his guitar and singing or holding his guitar and writing in his notebook that you can show.

Read more on Salon

Mr. Lai is the imprisoned newspaper owner who has spent nearly five years in Hong Kong jails—most of it in solitary confinement—as he’s being tried for collusion with foreign forces.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• lone 
• lonely 
• singular