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

Hotel de Pavie, once a convent for nuns, that offered shelter and protection to pilgrims and travelers is today a glamarous experience to partake in. —Valentina Di Donato, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025

The town is also a spiritual haven, drawing pilgrims to the Church of Immaculate Conception and the sacred desert of Wirikuta, a revered site for the Huichol people. —Meagan Drillinger, AFAR Media, 28 Mar. 2025

Earlier Saturday, the pope sent a message to pilgrims who are in Rome for the Catholic Church's Jubilee Year. —Emma Bowman, NPR, 22 Mar. 2025

Many of Mauritius’s monkeys live here, where pilgrims feed them. —Byrefael Kubersky, science.org, 20 Mar. 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