solitude
Americannoun
-
the state of being or living alone; seclusion.
to enjoy one's solitude.
- Synonyms:
- privacy, retirement
-
remoteness from habitations, as of a place; absence of human activity.
the solitude of the mountains.
- Synonyms:
- loneliness
-
a lonely, unfrequented place.
a solitude in the mountains.
- Synonyms:
- wilderness, desert
noun
-
the state of being solitary or secluded
-
poetic a solitary place
Related Words
Solitude, isolation refer to a state of being or living alone. Solitude emphasizes the quality of being or feeling lonely and deserted: to live in solitude. Isolation may mean merely a detachment and separation from others: to be put in isolation with an infectious disease.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of solitude
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin sōlitūdō. See soli- 1, -tude
Explanation
Solitude is the state of being alone. You might crave solitude after spending the holidays with your big, loud family — you want nothing more than to get away from everyone for a little while. Solitude can also refer to a place where you're completely alone. The middle of the woods, the top of a big mountain, the middle of a vast desert, even your room — these are places where you might go for solitude. Solitude comes from the Latin word solitudinem, which means "loneliness," but if you have moments of solitude that doesn't necessarily mean you're lonely. The word solitude carries the sense that you're enjoying being alone by choice.
Vocabulary lists containing solitude
List 2
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"Nature" by Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Fukada's quiet portrait of solitude and thwarted love in rural Japan with his "Nagi Notes" is one of three Japanese movies in the 22-strong main competition in Cannes, the world's biggest film festival.
From Barron's • May 13, 2026
“The Heart of the Andes,” a huge piece shown in stately solitude, had been widely advertised by a publicity agent.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026
Mary’s presence is a malignancy, a blight on the name that Sam has worked so hard to build, an identity that’s separate from Mary’s and secure in its solitude.
From Salon • Apr. 24, 2026
Even the things we do in pleasurable solitude can help us connect to one another.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
And so Michael Burry ended where he began—alone, and comforted by his solitude.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
