English Reference
Noun

recluse

n.
C1 Advanced US /ɹɪˈkɫus/ UK /ɹɪklˈuːs/ recluse UK spelling recluses

n.a person who lives alone and avoids other people. You use this to describe someone who prefers to stay away from society.

n.a person who lives in seclusion and avoids social contact. Often used to describe someone who has chosen a solitary lifestyle for religious, philosophical, or health reasons.


SIMPLE

The writer lived as a recluse in the mountains.

CONTEXTUAL

After retiring from public life, the famous actor became a recluse, rarely leaving his home or speaking to the press.

COMPLEX

The philosopher spent decades as a recluse, dedicating his life to the study of ancient texts and the cultivation of a private garden.


From Old French reclus, past participle of reclure, from Latin reclūdere (“to disclose, to open”), from re- + claudō (“close”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin reclūdō
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated