pilgrim

noun

pil·​grim ˈpil-grəm 

1

: one who journeys in foreign lands : wayfarer

2

: one who travels to a shrine or holy place as a devotee

3

capitalized : one of the English colonists settling at Plymouth in 1620

Examples of pilgrim in a Sentence

Thousands of Muslim pilgrims traveled to Mecca.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hybe’s Seoul headquarters is a nineteen-story tower swarming with activity: each day, hundreds of pilgrims show up, hoping for a glimpse of their idols. —Alex Barasch, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024

The relic trade was big business at the time; relics were bought and sold, and pilgrims often paid a fee to visit them. —Eric Vanden Eykel, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2024

Dedicated to Murugan, the Hindu god of war, the temple has drawn Tamil pilgrims to celebrate Thaipusam, a Hindu festival held during the full moon of the Tamil month of Thai in January or February, there annually since 1892. —Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2024

According to government officials, 141,000 of these unauthorized pilgrims were treated for heatstroke. —Ellen Ioanes, Vox, 25 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French pelerin, pilegrin, from Late Latin pelegrinus, alteration of Latin peregrinus foreigner, from peregrinus, adjective, foreign, from peregri abroad, from per through + agr-, ager land — more at for, acre

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pilgrim

• pilgrim bottle

Kids Definition

pilgrim

noun

pil·​grim ˈpil-grəm 

1

: one who journeys in foreign lands : traveler

2

: a person who travels to a shrine or holy place to worship

3

capitalized : one of the English colonists who founded the first permanent settlement in New England at Plymouth in 1620