solitary

Listen See in ThesaurusSee in a sentence

The definition of solitary is someone or something that is single, lonely or alone.

(adjective)

  1. An example of solitary is a person living in a large house alone.
  2. An example of solitary is one bird flying in the sky.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See solitary in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. living or being alone
  2. without others; single; only: a solitary example
  3. characterized by loneliness or lack of companions
  4. lonely; remote; unfrequented: a solitary place
  5. done in solitude
  6. Bot. occurring singly, as a flower
  7. Zool. living alone or in pairs; not colonial, social, etc.

Origin: ME < OFr solitaire < L solitarius < solus, alone, sole

noun pl. solitaries

  1. a person who lives alone; esp., a hermit
  2. Informal solitary confinement

Related Forms:

See solitary in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. Existing, living, or going without others; alone: a solitary traveler. See Synonyms at alone.
  2. Happening, done, or made alone: a solitary evening; solitary pursuits such as reading and sewing.
  3. Remote from civilization; secluded: a solitary retreat.
  4. Having no companions; lonesome or lonely.
  5. Zoology Living alone or in pairs only: solitary wasps; solitary sparrows.
  6. Single and set apart from others: a solitary instance of cowardice.
noun pl. sol·i·tar·ies
  1. A person who lives alone; a recluse.
  2. Solitary confinement.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French solitaire

Origin: , from Latin sōlitārius

Origin: , from sōlitās, solitude

Origin: , from sōlus, alone; see s(w)e- in Indo-European roots

.

Related Forms:

  • solˌi·tarˈi·ly (-târˈə-lē) adverb
  • solˈi·tarˌi·ness noun

Learn more about solitary

solitary synonyms

solitary in a sentence

solitary quotes

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD

Also Mentioned In

alone

bee

brook

clap

confinement

cypress

hermit

hole

hunter

nodule

» more results...

Browse entries near solitary

Solingen

solipsism

solipsistic

solitaire

solitary confinement

soliton

solitude

solitudinarian

solleret

solmization

About YourDictionary Advertisers Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Bookmark Site Help Suggestion Box Tools
© 1996-2013 LoveToKnow, Corp. All Rights Reserved. Audio pronunciation provided by LoveToKnow, Corp.
About YourDictionary Advertisers Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Help
© 1996-2013 LoveToKnow, Corp. All Rights Reserved. Audio pronunciation provided by LoveToKnow, Corp.