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

The cross may have arrived with a pilgrim from Europe and fallen during their journey in the Land of Israel, or perhaps it was purchased here in Jerusalem. —Aristos Georgiou, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024

On the first afternoon, new homeless friends and we, the pilgrims, sat together on the grass. —Judy Knotts, Austin American-Statesman, 27 Dec. 2024

Santa Maria Maggiore is one of Rome’s four papal basilicas (along with St. Peter’s, the Lateran, and San Paolo fuori le Mura), and during the Jubilee year their holy doors will remain open so that pilgrims can pass through — a rite associated with remission of sins. —David Laskin, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024

Christmas Eve also marks the beginning of the Vatican’s Holy Year in which around 32 million pilgrims are expected to head to Rome throughout 2025. —Brie Stimson, Fox News, 22 Dec. 2024

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