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

Examples of hermit in a Sentence

St. Jerome is said to have spent two years as a hermit in the desert, searching for inner peace.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sure, the $150,000 price tag might make your wallet wince, but for the chance to be a high-tech hermit with all the comforts of home? —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025

Sure, the $150,000 price tag might make your wallet wince, but for the chance to be a high-tech hermit with all the comforts of home? —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025

George lives something of a hermit’s life in Hudson. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025

Then Birdie falls in love with Arthur Neilsen, a mountainside hermit with a scarred face. —Margot Harrison, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2025

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

• hermit crab

Rhymes for hermit

• thermit

Kids Definition

hermit

noun

her·​mit ˈhər-mət 

1

: one that lives apart from others especially for religious reasons : recluse

2

: a spiced molasses cookie