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View synonyms for solitary

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

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a person who lives in seclusion; hermit; recluse
  2. informal.
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈsolitariness, noun
  • ˈsolitarily, adverb
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Other Words From

  • soli·tari·ly adverb
  • soli·tari·ness noun
  • un·soli·tary adjective
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of solitary1

C14: from Latin sōlitārius, from sōlus sole 1
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Example Sentences

He was jailed for his role in them, and placed in solitary confinement.

From BBC

These field exposure estimates informed subsequent studies on the impact of such exposure on hibernating bumble bee queens and the hoary squash bee, a solitary ground-nesting species.

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

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

They have also lobbied against legislation to limit the use of solitary confinement and grant inmates more visiting rights.

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solitairesolitary bee