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

For much of his career, Ryding was a lone wolf.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

"Then about the age of 13, we implicitly and explicitly tell a lot of young men that's not cool. You should be a lone wolf, should be able to stand in your own."

From Salon • Jun. 20, 2023

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

They found that when it comes to living longer, being part of the herd is better than being a lone wolf.

From Scientific American • Jan. 31, 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