A hermit is a person who lives alone, away from people and society.
Synonyms: recluse, monk, loner [informal], solitary More Synonyms of hermit
hermit in British English
(ˈhɜːmɪt)
noun
1.
one of the early Christian recluses
2.
any person living in solitude
Derived forms
hermitic (herˈmitic) or hermitical (herˈmitical)
adjective
hermitically (herˈmitically)
adverb
hermit-like (ˈhermit-ˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C13: from Old French hermite, from Late Latin erēmīta, from Greek erēmitēs living in the desert, from erēmia desert, from erēmos lonely
hermit in American English
(ˈhɜrmɪt)
noun
1.
a person who lives alone in a lonely or secluded spot, often from religious motives; recluse
2. US
a spiced cookie made with nuts and raisins
Derived forms
hermitic (herˈmitic)
adjective or herˈmitical
Word origin
ME hermite < OFr < LL(Ec) eremita < LGr erēmitēs, a hermit < Gr, of the desert < erēmos, desolate < IE base *er-, loose, distant, to separate > Sans *árma- (pl.), fragments, ruins
Examples of 'hermit' in a sentence
hermit
We're all like hermit crabs : little naked creatures that have found a suitable shell and decided to live inside it until it stops fitting.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Nor has she allowed herself to become a hermit.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
And the hermit crabs run free.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Come on out, you hermit crabs.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
After all, he is a hermit crab who predicts football results.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He lived as a hermit from the age of 18 until his death.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
I lived like a hermit, studying.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In 1897 he entered into the life of a hermit at Nazareth.
Martin Manser COLLINS DICTIONARY OF SAINTS (2004)
The good news is that you don't have to become a hermit or throw away your iPod.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
I lived like a hermit.
The Sun (2013)
Somebody told me that if you hum next to a hermit crab, it brings it out - and it works.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She seems to have few friends and has complained that she is forced to live'the life of a hermit crab '.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
I had to live like a hermit indoors as I was in constant agony.
The Sun (2009)
In other languages
hermit
British English: hermit NOUN
A hermit is a person who lives alone, away from people and society.
I've spent the past ten years living like a hermit.
American English: hermit
Brazilian Portuguese: eremita
Chinese: 隐士
European Spanish: ermitaño
French: ermite
German: Einsiedler
Italian: eremita
Japanese: 隠者
Korean: 은자
European Portuguese: eremita
Latin American Spanish: ermitaño
(noun)
Definition
a person living in solitude, esp. for religious reasons
He lived like a hermit despite his fortune in shares and property.
Synonyms
recluse
She became a recluse for the remainder of her life.
monk
loner (informal)
I'm very much a loner - I never go out.
solitary
anchorite
anchoress
stylite
eremite
Additional synonyms
in the sense of anchorite
Definition
a person who chooses to live in isolation for religious reasons