castaway
word
Definition
A person who has been left alone or stranded, usually on an island, after a shipwreck or other accident at sea.
Usage & Nuances
Mostly refers to people who survive shipwrecks and end up isolated, especially on islands. Used in adventure stories and historical accounts. Not used for people abandoned in cities or on land. Often appears as a noun ('a castaway') or in the plural ('castaways').
Example Sentences
The castaway built a shelter from palm leaves.
basic
Robinson Crusoe is a famous story about a castaway.
basic
The boat capsized, leaving him a castaway on the island.
basic
After days at sea, the castaway finally spotted another ship on the horizon.
natural
No one expected to find a castaway living alone for years.
natural
He felt like a castaway in a world full of strangers.
natural