walkabout

noun

walk·​about ˈwȯ-kə-ˌbau̇t 

1

: a short period of wandering bush life engaged in by an Australian aborigine as an occasional interruption of regular work

—often used in the phrase go walkabout

the man who went walkabout was making a ritual journey

—Bruce Chatwin

2

: something (such as a journey) similar to a walkabout

3

: a walking tour

especially, British : one in which a well-known person mingles with the public

went walkabout in the streets

Examples of walkabout in a Sentence

Many people gathered to meet the Queen during her walkabout.

Recent Examples on the Web

The piece notes the similarities between the black-and-white dress the marchioness wore to the ceremony and an outfit the princess wore during a walkabout the previous day — and the fact that both women wore the same type of shoes (Bow Tie Pump 105 heels by Aquazzura). —Ellie Hall, Vulture, 9 July 2024

Trump’s rhetorical walkabouts: A sign of ‘genius’ or cognitive decline? —Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2024

With that motivation, Love said, starting with emphasizing the need for a better regular season than the team’s eighth-place walkabout last season, which ultimately resulted in a first-round playoff ouster. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 July 2024

She’s often seen at major royal gatherings like Christmas and Easter royal walkabouts alongside her parents. —Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 15 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing walkabout

• go walkabout