tourist
Tourist (noun) means a person who travels to a place for pleasure or sightseeing rather than for work. Example: “The old town is packed with tourists in the summer.”
How to Use Tourist
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone traveling for leisure, or, more loosely, someone who only dabbles in something without real commitment.
Word Forms
touristed past tense, tourists plural, tourists singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old town is packed with _____ in the summer.
Etymology
Formed from tour plus the agent suffix -ist, following the pattern of words describing a person who does something.
Related Words
Rhymes for tourist
See all rhymes for tourist →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “tourist” mean?
The word “tourist” means a person who travels to a place for pleasure or sightseeing rather than for work. In plain terms, someone traveling for leisure, or, more loosely, someone who only dabbles in something without real commitment.
How do you pronounce “tourist”?
“Tourist” is pronounced TOOR-rihst (/ˈtʊɹɪst/ in IPA).
How do you use “tourist” in a sentence?
Here is “tourist” used in a sentence: “The old town is packed with tourists in the summer.”
What part of speech is “tourist”?
“Tourist” is a noun.
Is “tourist” a common word?
“Tourist” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “tourist” have?
“Tourist” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who travels to a place for pleasure or sightseeing rather than for work.
What is the difference between a "tourist" and a "traveller"?
A "tourist" is a person who visits a place for pleasure or sightseeing, usually for a short time and often following well-known attractions. "Traveller" is a broader word that can suggest longer, more independent journeys and deeper engagement with places, though the two overlap considerably.
What is the difference between a "tourist" and a "visitor"?
A "tourist" travels specifically for pleasure or sightseeing rather than for work. A "visitor" is anyone who comes to a place for any reason, including business, family, or study, so all tourists are visitors but not all visitors are tourists.
What is the difference between "tourist" and "tourism"?
"Tourist" is the person who travels for pleasure or sightseeing, while "tourism" is the wider activity and industry of people travelling and the services that support them. In short, tourists take part in tourism.