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

"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

Mr Rowe said he was questioned by police while in custody and it "felt like they'd gone out that day expecting to catch some kind of lone wolf attacker".

From BBC • Aug. 6, 2025

So yeah, I think now the current misconception is that he was a lone wolf acting alone.

From Salon • Aug. 28, 2024

I'm as much of a lone wolf or a misfit or a weirdo as anyone.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan