nomadic

adjective

no·​mad·​ic nō-ˈma-dik 

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of nomads

a nomadic tribe

nomadic herders

2

: roaming about from place to place aimlessly, frequently, or without a fixed pattern of movement

a nomadic hobo

Synonyms

• ambulant
• ambulatory
• errant
• fugitive
• gallivanting
• galavanting
• itinerant
• nomad
• perambulatory
• peregrine
• peripatetic
• ranging
• roaming
• roving
• vagabond
• vagrant
• wandering
• wayfaring

Examples of nomadic in a Sentence

raised in a nomadic family, she attended half a dozen different high schools

Recent Examples on the Web

The traditionally nomadic community is particularly impoverished in Israel and has suffered from neglect and marginalization. —Tia Goldenberg and Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025

Set it up permanently on your own slice of land or use it as a nomadic base camp while traveling. —New Atlas, 6 Jan. 2025

These traditional inns date back to the 8th century A.D. and many of the earliest ones were located along the Tokaido route, which connected current-day Tokyo and Kyoto, providing respite for nomadic samurai and traders. —Christina Liao, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2025

This shift reflects the rise of remote work and nomadic living. —Jeff Fromm, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Greek nomadikós "of a shepherd or herdsman, pastoral," from nomad-, nomás "wanderer, shepherd, nomad" + -ikos -ic entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1