adventurer

noun

ad·​ven·​tur·​er əd-ˈven-ch(ə-)rər 

1

: someone who seeks dangerous or exciting experiences : a person who looks for adventures: such as

a

: soldier of fortune

b

: one who engages in risky commercial enterprises for profit

2

somewhat old-fashioned : one who seeks unmerited wealth or position especially by playing on the credulity or prejudice of others

Examples of adventurer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Benthaus, a longtime adventurer, injured her spinal cord in a 2018 mountain biking accident. —Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 21 Dec. 2025

Blue Origin webcase Joining Benthaus and Koenigsmann aboard the New Shepard were physicist-investor Joey Hyde, entrepreneur Neal Milch, adventurer Jason Stansell and Adonis Pouroulis, a South African entrepreneur and mining engineer. —William Harwood, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025

This almost $2,000 extreme-weather jacket is now marked down to $1,600, making this Expedition Down Parka a one-of-a-kind buy for the cold-weather adventurer. —Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 19 Dec. 2025

Based on the video game franchise, following the adventures of world-famous archaeologist and adventurer Lara Croft (Turner), the Tomb Raider TV series’ plot is being kept under wraps. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 18 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

adventure entry 1 or adventure entry 2 + -er entry 2, probably after Middle French aventurier, adventurier

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for adventurer

• venturer

Kids Definition

adventurer

noun

ad·​ven·​tur·​er əd-ˈvench-(ə-)rər 

1

: a person who looks for adventures

2

: a person who tries to become wealthy or powerful by trickery