Aloners

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of individuals who prefer solitude or isolation over social interaction
2. Persons who intentionally choose to be alone, often finding comfort in their own company
3. Individuals who routinely engage in solitary activities, valuing independence and self-reflection

Etymology: "Aloners" is simply the plural of "aloner," a noun for people who prefer solitude. The noun is built from "alone" plus the suffix "-er," the same ending found in words like "walker" or "reader," which turns an adjective or verb into a noun for one who does something or has a certain quality. Here "alone" is the base, so an aloner is, in effect, one who is a person of being alone. The plural form follows the ordinary English pattern of adding "-s" to a countable noun, so it needs no separate history of its own. Its origin lies entirely in the English word "alone," which is itself a compound of "all" and "one," meaning "all by oneself."

Synonyms: loners, solitaires

Antonyms: socializers, companions