gadabout

noun

gad·​about ˈga-də-ˌbau̇t 

: a person who flits about in social activity

gadabout adjective

Did you know?

If you had to pick an insect most closely related to a gadabout, you might wryly guess the "social butterfly." But there's another bug that's commonly heard buzzing around discussions of the gadabout: the gadfly. Gadfly is a term used for any of a number of winged pests (such as horseflies) that bite or annoy livestock. But, although a gadabout's gossip can bite, gadfly doesn't have any clear etymological relation to gadabout. This word, which comes from the English phrase "gad about," traces back to the Middle English verb gadden, meaning "to be on the go without a specific aim or purpose." That word's source hasn't left a trail.

Synonyms

• drifter
• gypsy
• knockabout
• maunderer
• nomad
• rambler
• roamer
• rover
• stroller
• vagabond
• wanderer
• wayfarer

Examples of gadabout in a Sentence

she was a thoughtful gadabout, always picking up souvenirs for her friends from wherever her travels took her

Recent Examples on the Web

Hardly the schedule of a social gadabout. —New York Times, 5 Aug. 2021

The giggling gadabout who dies penniless. —Cory Oldweiler, Star Tribune, 11 Dec. 2020

The wild career of David Johansen — New York Dolls frontman, punk gadabout, occasional actor, and Buster Poindexter portrayer — will be the focus of an upcoming documentary co-directed by Martin Scorsese. —Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2023

For those of us who won’t be joining in the sybaritic excursion, Matches is bringing the Riviera gadabout vibes to all with capsule collections of women’s, men’s and home products curated by Sciò and Rabensteiner. —Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 5 May 2022

But a linesman stepped in and prevented the gadabout angler from bringing in the catch. —Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Nov. 2021

He was inundated with offers and tried to avoid being typecast as the likable gadabout. —BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2021

Writer, comedian, and social gadabout Lucas Murphy sits down with friends and contemporaries to solve the New York Times crossword puzzle. —Savannah Eadens, The Courier-Journal, 20 Apr. 2020

So, a solar charging system fits perfectly with your gadabout persona. —The Editors, Field & Stream, 10 Apr. 2020

Word History

Etymology

from the verb phrase gad about, from gad entry 2

First Known Use

1757, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

gadabout

noun

gad·​about ˈgad-ə-ˌbau̇t 

: a person who goes from place to place in social activity

gadabout adjective