drifter

noun

drift·​er ˈdrif-tər 

: one that drifts

especially : one that travels or moves about aimlessly

Synonyms of drifter

• nomad
• wanderer
• traveler
• roamer
• wayfarer

Examples of drifter in a Sentence

He was a drifter who hitchhiked from state to state.

the drifter just packed up and moved on to the next dead-end job

Recent Examples on the Web

Babylon 5 followed the diplomats, soldiers, and drifters aboard the station, built as neutral ground between humans and a handful of alien civilizations teetering on the edge of war. — Jp Mangalindan, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026

According to Rouse, the album grew out of observations gathered while traveling, with its songs populated by drifters, dreamers and fleeting encounters that blur the line between fiction and autobiography. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 4 Aug. 2026

To pass the night, the actress recounts an older tale of a farming couple who take in a troubled young drifter as a series of grisly murders spreads fear across the frontier. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 22 July 2026

Popham, a drifter, small-time criminal, and frequent drug user, lived with the Bunyard family intermittently. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for drifter

• lifter
• shifter
• sifter
• swifter

Kids Definition

drifter

noun

drift·​er ˈdrif-tər 

: one that drifts

especially : a person who travels about without purpose