hermit: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, literary, historical
Quick answer
What does “hermit” mean?
a person who lives in seclusion from society, often for religious reasons.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a person who lives in seclusion from society, often for religious reasons.
A person who chooses to live a solitary life, often in a remote location; someone who avoids social contact; can describe a recluse in modern contexts without religious connotation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The concept of a 'hermit crab' is common in both, but 'hermit' as a social descriptor is slightly more common in UK literary contexts.
Connotations
In both, carries connotations of asceticism, solitude, and often eccentricity. In US, sometimes used humorously for someone who rarely leaves home.
Frequency
Low-frequency word in everyday speech; more common in written English, historical, and religious texts.
Grammar
How to Use “hermit” in a Sentence
live like a hermitbecome a hermitretreat from society as a hermitVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hermit” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The old hermit was said to possess ancient wisdom.
- He purchased a remote cottage and turned into a complete hermit.
American English
- The hermit lived in a shack deep in the woods.
- After the scandal, he became a virtual hermit, refusing all interviews.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Metaphorically for a company operating in extreme isolation.
Academic
Used in religious studies, history, and literature to describe ascetic figures.
Everyday
Used humorously or critically for someone avoiding social contact.
Technical
In zoology: 'hermit crab' (a crustacean using others' shells).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hermit”
- Confusing 'hermit' (person) with 'hermitage' (place). Incorrect: 'He lived in a hermit.' Correct: 'He lived as a hermit' or 'in a hermitage.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Historically, yes, but modern usage often describes anyone living in deliberate solitude, without religious motivation.
'Hermit' often implies a chosen way of life, sometimes in a natural setting, with historical/religious echoes. 'Recluse' is more neutral, focusing on the act of withdrawal from society, often for personal reasons.
Rarely. The adjectival form is 'hermitic' or 'hermitical', but these are very formal. More common: 'hermit-like' or using 'hermit' as a noun modifier (e.g., 'hermit life').
A type of crab that uses empty mollusc shells to protect its soft abdomen. It's a literal, zoological use of the word, drawing a metaphor to a creature that 'retreats' into a borrowed home.
a person who lives in seclusion from society, often for religious reasons.
Hermit is usually formal, literary, historical in register.
Hermit: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɜː.mɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɝː.mɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “go into hermit mode (informal)”
- “hermit kingdom”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HERMIT who has to HURRY MIT (with) himself away from people.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL INTERACTION IS PROXIMITY / WITHDRAWAL IS RETREAT. A hermit is someone who has retreated from the social 'field'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is the most accurate synonym for 'hermit' in a historical religious context?