solitaire

American  

[sol-i-tair] / ˈsɒl ɪˌtɛər /

noun

1. Also called patience.  any of various games played by one person with one or more regular 52-card packs, part or all of which are usually dealt out according to a given pattern, the object being to arrange the cards in a predetermined manner.

2. a game played by one person alone, as a game played with marbles or pegs on a board having hollows or holes.

3. a precious stone, especially a diamond, set by itself, as in a ring.

4. any of several American thrushes of the genus Myadestes, having short, broad bills and noted for their beautiful songs.

5. a large extinct flightless bird of the genus Pezophaps, related to the dodo but with a longer neck, smaller bill, and longer legs, that inhabited the Mascarene Islands.

---

solitaire British  

/ ˌsɒlɪˈtɛə, ˈsɒlɪˌtɛə /

noun

1. Also called: pegboard.  a game played by one person, esp one involving moving and taking pegs in a pegboard or marbles on an indented circular board with the object of being left with only one

2. the US name for patience

3. a gem, esp a diamond, set alone in a ring

4. any of several extinct birds of the genus Pezophaps, related to the dodo

5. any of several dull grey North American songbirds of the genus Myadestes: subfamily Turdinae (thrushes)

---

Etymology

Origin of solitaire

1350–1400; Middle English < French < Latin sōlitārius solitary

Explanation

Solitaire is a game you can play all by yourself—all you need is a deck of cards. And just as solitaire is a game for one, a single diamond in a ring is also a solitaire. Another name for the solitaire card game is patience. There are variations on this game, but most involve sorting cards into suits by ranking numbers (king, queen, jack, ten, etc.). The Latin root at the heart of this lonely word is solitarius, "alone or isolated." Originally, a solitaire was a widow, and eventually the word came to mean any solitary person. In the 18th century, the "gemstone" and "card game" meanings evolved.

Example Sentences

The team also identified a new solitaire coral, that are described in another study.

From Science Daily • Feb. 2, 2026

According to People Magazine at the time, Affleck proposed with a custom-made Harry Winston pink-diamond solitaire ring.

From Salon • Aug. 22, 2024

It was hoped that her solitaire diamond ring, which was listed for sale between £70,000 to £100,000, would boost the amount for charity, but it did not meet its reserve price.

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2024

According to the Post, the media tycoon proposed to Smith with an Asscher-cut diamond solitaire on St. Patrick’s Day in New York City.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2023

She always charged double to the swankily dressed; at solitaire she cheated like mad.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• bracelet
• brooch
• costume
• earring
• gem
• glass
• gold
• jewel
• knickknack
• necklace
• ornament
• pendant
• silver
• tiara
• treasure
• trinket