solitary

[sol-i-ter-ee]

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.

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

/ -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

noun

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

2. informal,  short for solitary confinement

Other Word Forms

• solitariness noun
• solitarily adverb
• unsolitary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of solitary¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of solitary¹

C14: from Latin sōlitārius, from sōlus _sole ¹

Example Sentences

With his allies turning their back, Macron is looking more solitary than ever.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

In the internet age, its role "has shifted from solitary gatekeeper to anchor signal inside a network where media exposure and online reviews amplify, rather than replace, its certification," he told AFP.

Read more on Barron's

Many victims have told The Times that they suffered egregious abuse decades ago at the hands of probation staff, who they said would molest them and threaten them with solitary confinement if they told higher-ups.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Perhaps, but it was symbolic of the solitary nature of his position, as he confronts some of the hardest choices of his presidency and some of his former allies appear to be deserting him.

Read more on BBC

Ms Mdluli tried to allay the fears by saying the deportees were being held in solitary confinement in a secure facility.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• lone 
• lonely 
• singular