# solitary

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈsɑlɪˌtɛɹi/ · frequency rank #10,771

## Definitions
1. One who lives alone, or in solitude; an anchorite, hermit or recluse.
2. Ellipsis of solitary confinement.
3. The state of being solitary; solitude

## Etymology
From Middle English solitarie, borrowed from Latin sōlitārius. Doublet of solitaire.

## Easily confused with
- **sanitary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sanitary-vs-solitary)
- **salivary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/salivary-vs-solitary)
- **solitaire** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/solitaire-vs-solitary)

## Common misspellings (12)
`oslitary`, `sloitary`, `soiltary`, `soliatry`, `solitarry`, `solitaryy`, `solitayr`, `solitray`, `solittary`, `sollitary`, `soltiary`, `ssolitary`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/solitary