solitary
solitary Lexical Profile
solitary Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Done or existing alone; without companions.
"The author enjoyed taking a solitary walk through the forest every morning."
Secluded or isolated from other places or people.
"They rented a solitary cabin high in the mountains for their summer retreat."
Single; only one in number (often used for emphasis).
"There was not a solitary cloud in the bright blue sky."
• noun
Solitary confinement in a prison (used informally as an uncountable noun).
"After the altercation in the yard, the inmate spent two weeks in solitary."
A person who lives alone and avoids the company of others; a recluse or hermit.
"Having lived in the remote valley for decades, the old carpenter was known locally as a solitary."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'lonely' implies unhappiness about being without company, 'solitary' simply describes the state of being alone, often by choice and without negative emotion.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 14th century from Old French solitaire, from Latin solitarius ('alone, isolated'), ultimately derived from solus ('alone, single').