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

It tells the story of a lonely woman who uses a magical spray to improve her life and finds romance with a fellow loner.

From BBC

Since I’m a loner, I don’t have any really close friends, either.

From MarketWatch

That same year, Altman also gave him the title role in his “Brewster McCloud,” an eccentric fable about a Houston loner determined to build a pair of wings and take flight.

From Los Angeles Times

Or heard more stories about how I’m a loner.

From Literature

Pretti lived alone and worked long hours as a nurse, but he was not a loner, his neighbours said.

From BBC

Related Words

• hermit
• outsider