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noun

vagrant

VAYG-ruhnt

Vagrant (noun) means a person with no permanent home who moves from place to place, often begging or living on the street. Example: “City officials debated new laws to help vagrants find shelter.”

noun
1
A person with no permanent home who moves from place to place, often begging or living on the street.
"City officials debated new laws to help vagrants find shelter."
adj
1
Wandering from place to place without a fixed home or settled job.
"The vagrant lifestyle appealed to him after he sold his house."

How to use vagrant

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone who has no fixed address and moves around, usually because of poverty.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
a vagrant lifestyle arrested as a vagrant

Word forms

more vagrant comparative, vagrants plural, most vagrant superlative

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City officials debated new laws to help _____ find shelter.

Etymology

From Late Middle English vagraunt, likely from Anglo-Norman vagarant, probably influenced by Latin vagari ("to wander, roam").

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for vagrant

See all rhymes for vagrant →

Frequently asked questions

What does “vagrant” mean?

The word “vagrant” means a person with no permanent home who moves from place to place, often begging or living on the street. In plain terms, someone who has no fixed address and moves around, usually because of poverty.

How do you pronounce “vagrant”?

“Vagrant” is pronounced VAYG-ruhnt (/ˈveɪɡɹənt/ in IPA).

How do you use “vagrant” in a sentence?

Here is “vagrant” used in a sentence: “City officials debated new laws to help vagrants find shelter.”

What part of speech is “vagrant”?

Depending on how it is used, “vagrant” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “vagrant” come from?

The word “vagrant” comes from Latin. From Late Middle English vagraunt, likely from Anglo-Norman vagarant, probably influenced by Latin vagari ("to wander, roam").

How many meanings does “vagrant” have?

“Vagrant” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person with no permanent home who moves from place to place, often begging or living on the street.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial