# loner

/ˈɫoʊnɝ/ (US) · /lˈəʊnɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/loner
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Often used with the verb 'to be' and the indefinite article 'a'.

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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.