solitary
SAHL-ih-ter-ee
/ˈsɑːlətɛri/
Done, existing, or living alone; avoiding the company of others.
Refers to the objective state of being alone, without necessary feelings of loneliness.
The story behind the word. Derived from Latin solus meaning 'alone'. This root also gives us 'solo', 'solitude', and 'desolate', all centering on the experience of single existence.
Word relationships
- isolated: Stresses physical distance or separation from others.
- lone: More poetic or dramatic, standing by itself.
- social: Living or moving naturally in groups or communities.
- gregarious: Fond of company; sociable.
Commonly confused with
- lonely: Lonely expresses sadness caused by isolation; solitary simply describes being alone.
Word family
- solitude (noun): The state or situation of being alone.
- solitarily (adverb): In a solitary manner.
Collocations
- solitary life
- solitary figure
- solitary confinement
- solitary walk
Idioms & expressions
- a lone wolf
- alone in one's castle
Example sentences
- "Leopards are solitary hunters that prefer roaming vast territories without a pack." Nature and wildlife
- "He enjoyed solitary walks along the misty beach early in the morning." Lifestyle description
Memory hook
SOLITARY connects directly to SOLO—doing something single-handedly. Solo like a solitary rider.
When not to use
Avoid using as a direct synonym for 'lonely', which carries sadness. Solitary is descriptive and can be enjoyable.
Fun facts
- In ecology, animals are formally classified as 'gregarious' or 'solitary' based on whether they live in herds or alone.
Explore more words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.