noun

stowaway

STOH-uh-way

Stowaway (noun) means someone who hides aboard a ship, plane, or train to travel without paying or being noticed. Example: “Customs officers found a stowaway hiding in the cargo hold.”

noun

Someone who hides aboard a ship, plane, or train to travel without paying or being noticed.

"Customs officers found a stowaway hiding in the cargo hold."

"The film follows a teenage stowaway who sneaks onto a cruise ship."

How to use stowaway

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone who secretly hitches a ride on a vehicle they have no ticket for.

Common pairings

a stowaway on board discover a stowaway stowaway hiding in

Word forms

stowaways plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

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

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Customs officers found a _____ hiding in the cargo hold.

Etymology

From the phrasal verb "stow away," meaning to hide oneself among stowed cargo.

Rhymes for stowaway

ay may day say ray hay lay pay jay way yay nay

See all rhymes for stowaway →

Frequently asked questions

What does “stowaway” mean?

The word “stowaway” means someone who hides aboard a ship, plane, or train to travel without paying or being noticed. In plain terms, someone who secretly hitches a ride on a vehicle they have no ticket for.

How do you pronounce “stowaway”?

“Stowaway” is pronounced STOH-uh-way (/ˈstəʊəˌweɪ/ in IPA).

How do you use “stowaway” in a sentence?

Here is “stowaway” used in a sentence: “Customs officers found a stowaway hiding in the cargo hold.”

What part of speech is “stowaway”?

“Stowaway” is a noun.