pilgrim

noun

pil·​grim ˈpil-grəm 

1

: one who journeys in foreign lands : wayfarer

2

: one who travels to a shrine or holy place as a devotee

3

capitalized : one of the English colonists settling at Plymouth in 1620

Examples of pilgrim in a Sentence

Thousands of Muslim pilgrims traveled to Mecca.

Recent Examples on the Web

Also introduced were electric mobility options to assist pilgrims, although walking remains the traditional method for performing rituals. —Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025

The event attracted pilgrims to a different site near Kampala where dignitaries, including Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, had gathered for Mass. —Brittany Williams, Arkansas Online, 4 June 2025

Daniel: Of course, this year, the passing of Pope Francis has brought additional crowds of pilgrims and mourners. —Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2025

Twain’s first big success, The Innocents Abroad (1869), was written while accompanying American pilgrims to Europe and the Holy Land. —Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French pelerin, pilegrin, from Late Latin pelegrinus, alteration of Latin peregrinus foreigner, from peregrinus, adjective, foreign, from peregri abroad, from per through + agr-, ager land — more at for, acre

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pilgrim

• pilgrim bottle

Kids Definition

pilgrim

noun

pil·​grim ˈpil-grəm 

1

: one who journeys in foreign lands : traveler

2

: a person who travels to a shrine or holy place to worship

3

capitalized : one of the English colonists who founded the first permanent settlement in New England at Plymouth in 1620