loner

American  

[loh-ner] / ˈloʊ nər /

noun

1. a person who is or prefers to be alone, especially one who avoids the company of others.

   He was always a loner—no one knew him well.

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loner British  

/ ˈləʊnə /

noun

1. informal a person or animal who avoids the company of others or prefers to be alone

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Etymology

Origin of loner

First recorded in 1945–50; lone + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Los Angeles and Tucson, Ariz. Despite many close friendships, especially with women, he was at heart a loner, conditioned, possibly, by clinical depression, for which he sought electroshock therapy even though it addled his brain.

From The Wall Street Journal

McCarthy readily confesses he’s “very much a loner,” quiet and pensive — and yet he craves attachment.

From Los Angeles Times

Jonathan Pierce would have been serious-minded, a bit of a loner, head often in a book.

From Literature

Opalite is a surreal 1980s-inspired video which tells the story of a lonely woman who uses a magical spray to improve her life and find romance with a fellow loner - played by Gleeson.

From BBC

His reputation as a genius loner rides on two kinds of art.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• hermit
• outsider