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View synonyms for

solitary

[ sol-i-ter-ee ]

adjective

  1. alone; without companions; unattended:

    a solitary passer-by.

    Synonyms:

  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: , ,

  8. Zoology. living habitually alone or in pairs, as certain wasps. Compare social ( def 11 ).


noun

plural solitaries.
  1. a person who lives alone or in solitude, or avoids the society of others.

    Synonyms: ,

  2. a person who lives in solitude from religious motives.

    Synonyms: , ,

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

  • ˈDZٲԱ, noun
  • ˈDZٲ, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • DZi·ٲi· adverb
  • DZi·ٲi·Ա noun
  • ܲ·DZi·ٲy adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of solitary1

1300–50; Middle English < Latin ōܲ alone, by itself, solitary, equivalent to ō ( ) solitude ( ō ( us ) sole 1 + -it -ity ) + -ary
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Word History and Origins

Origin of solitary1

C14: from Latin ōܲ, from ōus sole 1
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He was then held in solitary confinement for two weeks in the United States, while being denied contact with a lawyer before ultimately being shipped off to Syria.

From

She suffered regular strip searches and nearly a year in solitary confinement.

From

The seven-time Premier League champion remains outside the play-off places, having only progressed to a solitary nightly final across the opening 10 weeks.

From

"As broken families, we firmly believe the appropriate punishment for this individual should be permanent solitary confinement. In truth, anything harsher would be more fitting."

From

Much like its smaller counterpart in West Virginia, the Bureau of Prisons has dealt with severe problems, including staffing shortages, preventable deaths and overuse of solitary confinement in recent years.

From

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solitairesolitary bee