Robinson Cru ‧ soe /ˌrɒbəns ə n ˈkruːsəʊ, ˌrɒbɪns ə n ˈkruːsəʊ $ ˌrɑː-/ BrE AmE
the main character in the book Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. When Robinson Crusoe’s ship sinks, he manages to reach a ↑ desert island (=a small tropical island with no people living on it) where he builds a home. Later he meets a black man who he calls Man Friday and who becomes his servant and friend. They are both finally discovered by a British ship and taken home. If someone lives alone on an island, people sometimes compare them to Robinson Crusoe:
The explorer is a latter-day Robinson Crusoe.