Straggler: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe someone who is falling behind a group of people often due to distraction or lack of speed.

• We had to wait for the stragglers to catch up during the hike

Applies to someone who moves or travels around without a specific direction or purpose. Often has a neutral or poetic connotation.

• As a wanderer, she loves exploring new cities without any set plan

Refers to someone or something that is slow to move, develop, or respond. Often used in business or tech contexts.

• The company became a laggard in adopting new technologies

Describes a person who stays in a place longer than necessary, usually to delay or avoid something.

• He is a lingerer, always the last to leave the office

Used to describe someone who is left behind or lags behind a group. This term often applies to people or animals in a larger moving group.

• The hikers had to wait for the stragglers to catch up.
• In a marathon, there are always a few stragglers at the end.

Refers to someone or something that has wandered away from its original place or group. It can apply to animals that are lost or roaming and also people or objects that are out of place.

• They found a stray dog wandering in the park.
• A few stray papers were left on the desk after the meeting.

Describes a person or place that has been abandoned or left completely alone. This term usually has a negative, emotional tone, implying a sense of desolation and abandonment.

• The old house looked forsaken, with broken windows and overgrown weeds.
• He felt forsaken by his friends and family after the incident.

Describes someone or something that is separated from others. This term can be used in both neutral and negative contexts, depending on whether the isolation is voluntary or imposed.

• The island is isolated from the mainland, making it a perfect retreat.
• After moving to the new city, she felt isolated from her former friends.

Use this term for someone who is lagging behind a group, often in a physical sense, such as during a hike or race. It can have a slightly negative connotation.

• We had to wait for the stragglers to catch up with the rest of the group.
• During the marathon, there were a few stragglers who struggled to keep pace.

Best used for someone or something that is significantly different from a group, such as in data analysis, social settings, or performances.

• In the survey data, one response was a clear outlier.
• Among the students, Jessica was an outlier, excelling in all subjects significantly more than her peers.

This word is appropriate for someone who prefers to be alone or often is alone by choice. It can sometimes imply a social detachment.

• John has always been a bit of a loner, enjoying his own company more than that of others.
• The artist was seen as a loner, spending most of his time in his studio.

Commonly refers to a single or unique item or individual in a group, often used in technical or specialized contexts.

• In the context of card games, a singleton is a hand with only one card of a particular suit.
• He is a singleton among his siblings, being the only child who pursued a science career.