Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

Solitary

A solitary person or object is one which is not in the companionship of others of its type. Solitary activities are those which do not require (or indeed preclude) the presence of other people, such as walking, listening to music, cooking or painting.

Most people enjoy a number of solitary activities, with their level of preference for solitude over companionship being determined largely by their mood. People who prefer solitary activities as a matter of course are often referred to as introverts, whereas those who dislike solitude and prefer to be in the presence of others are called extroverts.