secluded
sih-KLOO-did
/sɪˈkluːdɪd/
Not visited or seen by many people; sheltered and private.
Usually has a positive connotation of peace and privacy, especially in travel.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'secludere,' where 'se-' means 'apart' and 'claudere' means 'to shut.' It literally means to shut oneself away from the rest of the world.
Word relationships
- private: Private means not for public use; secluded emphasizes being physically hidden or tucked away.
- sequestered: Sequestered is more formal and often implies being forced into isolation (like a jury).
- public: Open to everyone and easily seen.
- crowded: Filled with many people, the opposite of secluded.
Commonly confused with
- isolated: Isolated often implies being far from help or dangerously alone; secluded implies a pleasant privacy.
Word family
- seclude (verb): To keep someone or something away from others.
- seclusion (noun): The state of being private and away from people.
Collocations
- secluded beach
- secluded location
- secluded spot
Example sentences
- "They spent their honeymoon at a secluded villa overlooking the Mediterranean, far from the tourist crowds." Describing a honeymoon spot.
- "It was a secluded spot, where the noise of the world seemed like a distant memory." A literary description of a private place.
Memory hook
Think of 'secluding' yourself in a 'cloud' (sounds like claud) where no one can see you. Shut apart from the world.
When not to use
Don't use it to describe someone who is lonely in a sad way; use 'isolated' or 'lonely' instead.
Fun facts
- The root 'claudere' is also found in 'closet' and 'claustrophobia'.
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