noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
unmarried person; single person; bachelorhood; spinsterhood
Only when written 独り身
Refers to a person who is not married, or the state of being unmarried. Often used in contexts discussing marital status. The term 独身 is more common in everyday speech.
See also: 独身
彼はまだ独り身だ。
He is still single.
独り身の生活は気楽だ。
Life as a single person is carefree.
noun
living alone; person who lives alone; living apart from family
Describes a person living by themselves, separate from family. Can refer to the state of living alone or the person in that situation. Less common than sense 1.
都会で独り身の生活を送っている。
I'm living alone in the city.
独り身だと家事が全部自分にかかる。
When you live alone, all the housework falls on you.
Compound of 独り (ひとり, 'alone') + 身 (み, 'body, person'). The spelling 一人身 uses the more general 'one person' character. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used since at least the Edo period.