Solitary — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈsä-lə-ˌter-ē/ sol·i·tary

Meaning & Definition of Solitary

Solitary (adjective)

  1. being, living, or going alone or without companions
  2. saddened by isolation
  3. unfrequented, desolate

Solitary (noun)

  1. one who lives or seeks to live a solitary life, recluse
  2. solitary confinement in prison

Solitary (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being the one or ones of a class with no other members

    "a solitary example of truth-stretching is hardly grounds for branding the man a congenital liar"

    similar: alone, lone, one, one-off, only, singular, sole, special, sui generis, unique
    related: single, solo, unaccompanied, unattended, incomparable, inimitable, matchless, peerless, unequaled, unmatched, unparalleled, unrivaled, unsurpassable, unsurpassed, distinct, distinctive, individual, separate, nonce
    near: divers, manifold, multifarious, myriad, assorted, heterogenous, miscellaneous, mixed, motley, patchwork, promiscuous, varied, popular, prevailing, prevalent, rampant, perennial, recurrent, repeated

  2. not being in the company of others

    "a solitary sailboat was the only object on the horizon"

    similar: alone, lone, lonely, lonesome, single, solo, unaccompanied, on one's own
    related: unattended, unchaperoned, forlorn, friendless, cloistered, disassociated, hermetic, insulated, isolate, isolated, remote, retired, secluded, withdrawn, quarantined, segregated, separated, sequestered, separate, unattached, unconnected, unlinked, detached, disconnected, disjointed, dissociated, disunited, divided, fractionated, abandoned, adrift, deserted, desolate, forgotten, forsaken, lorn, neglected
    opposite: accompanied
    near: attended, chaperoned, escorted, adjacent, adjoining, communicating, contiguous, neighboring, next-door, attached, connected, coupled, linked

Solitary (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person who lives away from others

    "weary of European civilization, the painter Paul Gauguin famously abandoned France to become a solitary in the South Seas"

    similar: anchorite, eremite, hermit, isolate, recluse
    related: homebody, shut-in
    near: socialite, socializer

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Solitary

The most common words with a similar meaning to Solitary:

alone, lone, one, one-off, only, singular, sole, special, sui generis, unique, lonely, lonesome, single, solo, unaccompanied, on one's own, anchorite, eremite, hermit, isolate, recluse

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Solitary

Words with the opposite meaning of Solitary:

accompanied

Related Words for Solitary

unattended, incomparable, inimitable, matchless, peerless, unequaled, unmatched, unparalleled, unrivaled, unsurpassable, unsurpassed, distinct, distinctive, individual, separate, nonce, unchaperoned, forlorn, friendless, cloistered, disassociated, hermetic, insulated, isolated, remote, retired, secluded, withdrawn, quarantined, segregated

Near Antonyms of Solitary

divers, manifold, multifarious, myriad, assorted, heterogenous, miscellaneous, mixed, motley, patchwork, promiscuous, varied, popular, prevailing, prevalent, rampant, perennial, recurrent, repeated, attended, chaperoned, escorted, adjacent, adjoining, communicating, contiguous, neighboring, next-door, attached, connected

Word Forms of Solitary

Inflections: solitaries

Derived words: solitarily (adverb), solitariness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Solitary

Middle English, solitarie, from Anglo-French, from Latin solitarius, from solitas aloneness, from solus alone

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Solitary

solitary confinement

Frequently Asked Questions about Solitary

What does "Solitary" mean?

"Solitary" means being, living, or going alone or without companions. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: being, living, or going alone or without companions. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Solitary"?

Other words for "Solitary" include alone, lone, one, one-off, only, singular, sole and special. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Solitary" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Solitary"?

There are 73 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Solitary". Common alternatives include alone, lone, one, one-off, only, singular, sole, special, sui generis and unique.

What is the opposite of "Solitary"?

Antonyms of "Solitary" include accompanied. Near antonyms include divers, manifold, multifarious and myriad.

How do you use "Solitary" in a sentence?

Examples of "Solitary" in a sentence: "a solitary example of truth-stretching is hardly grounds for branding the man a congenital liar"; "a solitary sailboat was the only object on the horizon"; "weary of European civilization, the painter Paul Gauguin famously abandoned France to become a solitary in the South Seas".

Is "Solitary" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Solitary" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Solitary"?

"Solitary" is pronounced /ˈsä-lə-ˌter-ē/ and divided into syllables as sol·i·tary.

What is the origin of the word "Solitary"?

"Solitary" comes from Middle English, solitarie, from Anglo-French, from Latin solitarius, from solitas aloneness, from solus alone. First known use: 14th century.