Hermit

/ˈhərmət/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A person who lives in seclusion or apart from society, often for religious reasons.

After years of city life, he decided to become a hermit and moved to a remote cabin in the woods.

A recluse or someone who prefers solitude.

She was considered a hermit, rarely leaving her home and avoiding contact with neighbors.

A member of a religious group living in solitude.

The hermits in the monastery lived a life of prayer and contemplation away from the world.

Middle English 'heremite', from Old French 'ermite', from Latin 'eremita', from Greek 'eremites' (desert dweller).

hermit crab

A crustacean that lives in shells of other animals, symbolizing adaptation and change.

social hermit

A person who prefers solitude but sometimes engages socially.

solitude

The state of being alone, often by choice.

reclusion

The state of being shut away or concealed.

isolation

The condition of being separated from others.

Homebody

He's such a homebody; you'd think he was a hermit.

Cave dweller

Ever since he got that new gaming rig, he's turned into a real cave dweller.