hermit
noun
her·mit ˈhər-mət 
1
a
: one that retires from society and lives in solitude especially for religious reasons : recluse
b
obsolete : beadsman
2
: a spiced molasses cookie
hermitism
ˈhər-mə-ˌti-zəm
noun 
Synonyms
- anchorite
- eremite
- isolate
- recluse
- solitary
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
St. Jerome is said to have spent two years as a hermit in the desert, searching for inner peace.
Recent Examples on the Web That striking gown represents Korea’s long journey from hermit kingdom to global fashion trendsetter. 
Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2022 Rodman has cultivated a relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over the past decade, making multiple visits to the hermit kingdom. Jonathan Allen, NBC News, 21 Aug. 2022 By comparison, the hermit kingdom conducted only four tests in 2020, and eight in 2021. Gawon Bae And Jessie Yeung, CNN, 19 Aug. 2022 Cage is mesmerizing as a hermit ex-chef who actually has a heartwarming symbiotic relationship with his prize truffle-hunting pig. Gwen Ihnat, EW.com, 28 July 2022 In tarot, Virgo is represented by the hermit, proving this earth sign can do incredibly well at the work-from-home game. Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure, 11 July 2022 To ascertain whether hermit crabs experience pain, a pair of researchers at Queen’s University Belfast prodded them with electric shocks, and to figure out the same thing for squid a biologist at San Francisco State sliced them with scalpels. Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 6 June 2022 The basilica in L’Aquila hosts the tomb of Celestine V, a hermit pope who resigned after five months in 1294, overwhelmed by the job. Nicole Winfield, ajc, 5 June 2022 The basilica in L'Aquila hosts the tomb of Celestine V, a hermit pope who resigned after five months in 1294, overwhelmed by the job. Nicole Winfield, USA TODAY, 5 June 2022 See More
Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2022 Rodman has cultivated a relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over the past decade, making multiple visits to the hermit kingdom. Jonathan Allen, NBC News, 21 Aug. 2022 By comparison, the hermit kingdom conducted only four tests in 2020, and eight in 2021. Gawon Bae And Jessie Yeung, CNN, 19 Aug. 2022 Cage is mesmerizing as a hermit ex-chef who actually has a heartwarming symbiotic relationship with his prize truffle-hunting pig. Gwen Ihnat, EW.com, 28 July 2022 In tarot, Virgo is represented by the hermit, proving this earth sign can do incredibly well at the work-from-home game. Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure, 11 July 2022 To ascertain whether hermit crabs experience pain, a pair of researchers at Queen’s University Belfast prodded them with electric shocks, and to figure out the same thing for squid a biologist at San Francisco State sliced them with scalpels. Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 6 June 2022 The basilica in L’Aquila hosts the tomb of Celestine V, a hermit pope who resigned after five months in 1294, overwhelmed by the job. Nicole Winfield, ajc, 5 June 2022 The basilica in L'Aquila hosts the tomb of Celestine V, a hermit pope who resigned after five months in 1294, overwhelmed by the job. Nicole Winfield, USA TODAY, 5 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English heremite, eremite, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin eremita, from Late Greek erēmitēs, from Greek, adjective, living in the desert, from erēmia desert, from erēmos desolate
First Known Use
12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing hermit
Kids Definition
hermit
noun
her·mit ˈhər-mət
: a person who lives apart from others especially for religious reasons
hermits
noun
as in solitaries
a person who lives away from others St. Jerome is said to have spent two years as a hermit in the desert, searching for inner peace Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- solitaries
- anchorites
- recluses
- isolates
- eremites
- homebodies
- shut-ins
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- socialites
- socializers