Word
loner
Phoneticslon·er, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫoʊnɝ/
UK/lˈəʊnɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. someone who prefers to be alone rather than spend time with other people. You use this for a person who does not have many friends or does not want them.
n. a person who avoids or does not seek out the company of others. Often carries a neutral or slightly negative connotation depending on whether the isolation is perceived as a choice or a social failure.
Examples
“He was always a bit of a loner at school.”
“While his colleagues went out for drinks every Friday, Mark, a natural loner, preferred to head home and read.”
“The protagonist is portrayed as a stoic loner whose self-imposed isolation serves as a defense mechanism against the emotional demands of his community.”
Examples
simple
“He was always a bit of a loner at school.”
contextual
“While his colleagues went out for drinks every Friday, Mark, a natural loner, preferred to head home and read.”
complex
“The protagonist is portrayed as a stoic loner whose self-imposed isolation serves as a defense mechanism against the emotional demands of his community.”
Usage
Often used with the verb 'to be' and the indefinite article 'a'.
Real-World Examples
“The man accused of killing 22 people and injuring dozens more at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, this weekend was an “extreme loner” who was “picked on” for his voice and his clothes, the Los Angeles Times reported.” “The last three high-profile attacks that have convulsed the nation — two in just the past week or so —have been carried out by fringe loners who fit the stereotype of the perpetrators of such crimes precisely — they didn’t fit in, they were “off,” they kept to themselves.” “The myth that programming is done by loner men who think only rationally and communicate only with their computers harms the tech industry in ways that cut straight to the bottom line.” “He remained a loner, exhibiting little inclination to mingle with the established politicians with whom an Indian Prime Minister, like any political leader, is expected to be friendly.” Etymology
From lone + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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