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. Compare social ( def 11 ).

noun

, plural sol·i·tar·ies.

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

   a solitary elephant

   solitary bees

7. (of flowers) growing singly

noun

1. a person who lives in seclusion; hermit; recluse
2. informal.
   short for solitary confinement

Derived Forms

• ˈsolitariness, noun
• ˈsolitarily, adverb

Other Words From

• soli·tari·ly adverb
• soli·tari·ness noun
• un·soli·tary 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

England's solitary try came from a smart Marcus Smith intercept of a ponderous pass, but they rarely looked as if they could pick a way though the defence via their own wit.

From BBC

But any glimmer of hope for a Pegula comeback was extinguished as she double-faulted to give her opponent the break back, after which Krejcikova - whose performance was far from polished - coasted to a straightforward victory with a solitary break point her only hurdle.

From BBC

He’d survived riots, fights and years in solitary confinement.

From Los Angeles Times

In the early years, he said, he acted up, raking up disciplinary infractions that landed him in solitary confinement.

From Los Angeles Times

We’d be able to help make sure that—all those things we need to do, child care, elder care, making sure that we continue to strengthen our health care system, making sure that we’re able to make every single solitary person eligible for what I’ve been able to do with the COVID—excuse me, with dealing with everything we have to do with.

From Slate

Related Words

• lone
• lonely
• singular