peripatetic

1 of 2

adjective

peri·​pa·​tet·​ic ˌper-ə-pə-ˈte-tik 

1

a

: of, relating to, or given to walking

b

: moving or traveling from place to place : itinerant

2

capitalized : aristotelian

peripatetically

ˌper-ə-pə-ˈte-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Peripateticism

ˌper-ə-pə-ˈte-tə-ˌsi-zəm 

noun

peripatetic

2 of 2

noun

1

: pedestrian, itinerant

2

peripatetics ˌper-ə-pə-ˈte-tiks  plural : movement or journeys hither and thither

3

capitalized : a follower of Aristotle or adherent of Aristotelianism

Did you know?

Are you someone who likes to think on your feet? If so, you've got something in common with the followers of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. Not only a thinker and teacher, Aristotle was also a walker, and his students were required to walk along beside him as he lectured while pacing to and fro. Thus it was that the Greek word peripatētikos (from peripatein, meaning "to walk up and down") came to be associated with Aristotle and his followers. By the way, the covered walk in the Lyceum where Aristotle taught was known as the "peripatos" (which can either refer to the act of walking or a place for walking).

Synonyms

Adjective

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

Examples of peripatetic in a Sentence

Adjective

She worked as a peripatetic journalist for most of her life.

He had a peripatetic career as a salesman.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Since the time of Jawaharlal Nehru, no Indian prime minister has been so peripatetic. —Sumit Ganguly, Foreign Affairs, 8 Mar. 2018

Among the other exhibitions König curated were the Austrian Pavilion at the Fiftieth Venice Biennale in 2003 and the peripatetic European biennial Manifesta 10 in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 2014. —News Desk, Artforum, 12 Aug. 2024

Noun

Many forces conspire against the peripatetic. —New York Times, 11 Dec. 2021

The peripatetic pinniped inspired two children’s books, including one with photos by Pulitzer Prize winner Stanley Forman. —Jon Chesto, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle French & Latin; Middle French peripatetique, from Latin peripateticus, from Greek peripatētikos, from peripatein to walk up and down, discourse while pacing (as did Aristotle), from peri- + patein to tread; akin to Sanskrit patha path — more at find

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

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Kids Definition

peripatetic

adjective

peri·​pa·​tet·​ic

ˌper-ə-pə-ˈtet-ik

: going about from place to place : itinerant