solitary

American  

[sol-i-ter-ee] / ˈsɒl ɪˌtɛr i /

adjective

1. alone; without companions; unattended.

   a solitary passer-by.

   Synonyms:

   lone

2. living alone; avoiding the society of others.

   a solitary existence.

3. by itself; alone.

   one solitary house.

4. characterized by the absence of companions.

   a solitary journey.

5. done without assistance or accompaniment; done in solitude.

   solitary chores.

6. being the only one.

   a solitary exception.

7. characterized by solitude, as a place; unfrequented, secluded, or lonely.

   a solitary cabin in the woods.

   Synonyms:

   remote, retired, isolated

8. Zoology. living habitually alone or in pairs, as certain wasps.

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noun

plural

solitaries

1. a person who lives alone or in solitude, or avoids the society of others.

   Synonyms:

   recluse, hermit

2. a person who lives in solitude from religious motives.

   Synonyms:

   eremite, recluse, hermit

3. solitary confinement.

solitary British  

/ -trɪ, ˈsɒlɪtərɪ /

adjective

1. following or enjoying a life of solitude

   a solitary disposition

2. experienced or performed alone

   a solitary walk

3. (of a place) unfrequented

4. (prenominal) single; sole

   a solitary speck in the sky

5. having few companions; lonely

6. (of animals) not living in organized colonies or large groups Compare social gregarious

   solitary bees

   a solitary elephant

7. (of flowers) growing singly

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noun

1. a person who lives in seclusion; hermit; recluse

2. informal short for solitary confinement

Other Word Forms

• solitarily adverb
• solitariness noun
• unsolitary adjective

Etymology

Origin of solitary

1300–50; Middle English < Latin sōlitārius alone, by itself, solitary, equivalent to sōlit ( ās ) solitude ( sōl ( us ) sole ¹ + -itās -ity ) + -ārius -ary

Example Sentences

He is in solitary confinement in a smaller than normal cell.

From The Wall Street Journal

In these verses, Hardy returns to their courtship in Cornwall, their later estrangement and Emma’s solitary last drive when “you passed the spot / Where eight days later you were to lie.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The Englishman crafted breaks of 116 and 69 as he raced into a 3-0 lead before China's Ding responded with runs of 98 and 53 to reduce his arrears to a solitary frame.

From BBC

They forced the game's first three turnovers - two from Stroud fumbles, plus an interception - but the best Pittsburgh could muster on the following possessions was a solitary field goal.

From BBC

“It’s about two men who are lost and alone and solitary, and see a kinship in that. They are pulled together on this journey.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• lone
• lonely
• singular