# castaway

/ˈkæstəˌweɪ/ (US) · /kˈɑːstəwˌeɪ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/castaway
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

a person left alone in a wild or empty place, usually after a ship breaks apart. You use this for someone who must survive with little help until rescue comes.

For teachers: a person stranded in an isolated place, typically after a shipwreck, without means of escape or rescue.

## Examples

- The castaway waits on the beach for rescue.
- After the storm sinks their boat, the two castaways build a shelter from driftwood and signal passing ships.
- Marooned for months with only salvaged provisions, the castaway keeps a meticulous log, preserving both sanity and a record that later historians will mine for details of survival.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.