Reclusive describes someone who deliberately avoids other people and prefers to live alone or in isolation. A reclusive person might rarely leave their house, decline invitations to social gatherings, and keep to themselves rather than seeking out friends or company.

Some famous authors and artists have been reclusive, working alone for years without seeing many people. The writer Emily Dickinson rarely left her home in Massachusetts and became more reclusive as she grew older, yet she wrote nearly 1,800 poems. Howard Hughes, once a famous aviator and businessman, became increasingly reclusive later in his life, avoiding contact with almost everyone.

Being reclusive is different from being shy or introverted. Shy people might feel nervous around others but still want friends. Introverts might need quiet time to recharge but still enjoy socializing. A reclusive person actively withdraws from society and chooses isolation as a way of life. Someone living a reclusive lifestyle might go weeks or months with very little human contact.