single

/ˈsɪŋɡəl/

adjectivenoun★Beginner

general

One in number or kind; not multiple or paired.

He ordered a single coffee instead of a double.

He chose one coffee instead of two.

💡

Often used to emphasize uniqueness or singularity.

informal

Unmarried or not in a relationship.

She's been single for a year now.

She has not been in a romantic relationship for a year.

💡

Commonly used in social contexts to describe relationship status.

informal

A single piece or item, especially in music or media.

The artist released a new single last week.

The artist released a new song last week.

💡

In music, refers to a standalone song, not part of an album.

Collocations

single outto choose or identify someone or something from a groupsingle parenta parent raising a child alonesingle-handedlydone by one person alone

single outphrasal verb

to choose or identify someone or something from a group

single parentphrase

a parent raising a child alone

As an adjective, 'single' describes something as one in number (e.g., 'a single room'). As a noun, it refers to one item (e.g., 'a single ticket').

Avoid phrases like 'single individual' or 'single person,' as they are redundant.

From Middle English 'sengle,' from Old English 'sengel,' meaning 'one alone,' from Proto-Germanic 'singalaz.'

Can function as an adjective (e.g., 'a single person') or a noun (e.g., 'a single ticket'). In music, 'single' refers to a standalone song release.

sing

one

root

-le

alone

suffix

English Dictionary