1. a person who lives alone and avoids other people

1. living alone and avoiding contact with other people
Usage: formal

Examples

• After his retirement, he became a recluse and rarely left his house.
• The famous author was known to be a recluse who avoided public appearances.
• She lived a recluse life in the mountains for twenty years.
• The old man was something of a recluse, preferring books to people.
• Despite being wealthy, the recluse had no interest in social events.
• He chose a recluse existence after the tragedy changed his life.