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noun A2 Elementary Uncommon

pilgrim

PIHLG-rihm

Pilgrim (noun) means a person who travels to a place of religious significance. Example: “Thousands of pilgrims walk the Camino de Santiago every year.”

noun
1
A person who travels to a place of religious significance.
"Thousands of pilgrims walk the Camino de Santiago every year."
2
One of the early English settlers who sailed to America in the 17th century seeking religious freedom.
"The Pilgrims celebrated their first harvest with a feast that inspired modern Thanksgiving."

How to use pilgrim

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone on a religious journey, or (capitalised) one of the early Plymouth Colony settlers.

Common pairings
a pilgrim's journey the Pilgrim Fathers

Word forms

pilgrimed past tense, pilgrims plural, Pilgrims plural, pilgrims singular

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Test yourself on “pilgrim” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Thousands of _____ walk the Camino de Santiago every year.

Etymology

From Old French pelegrin, ultimately from Latin peregrinus, "foreigner" — a doublet of the word "peregrine."

Origin: Latin

Frequently asked questions

What does “pilgrim” mean?

The word “pilgrim” means a person who travels to a place of religious significance. In plain terms, someone on a religious journey, or (capitalised) one of the early Plymouth Colony settlers.

How do you pronounce “pilgrim”?

“Pilgrim” is pronounced PIHLG-rihm (/ˈpɪlɡɹɪm/ in IPA).

How do you use “pilgrim” in a sentence?

Here is “pilgrim” used in a sentence: “Thousands of pilgrims walk the Camino de Santiago every year.”

What part of speech is “pilgrim”?

“Pilgrim” is a noun.

Where does the word “pilgrim” come from?

The word “pilgrim” comes from Latin. From Old French pelegrin, ultimately from Latin peregrinus, "foreigner" — a doublet of the word "peregrine.".

Is “pilgrim” a common word?

“Pilgrim” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “pilgrim” have?

“Pilgrim” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who travels to a place of religious significance.

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