fellow traveler

noun

: a person who sympathizes with and often furthers the ideals and program of an organized group (such as the Communist party) without membership in the group or regular participation in its activities

broadly : a sympathetic supporter of another's cause

fellow-traveling adjective

Synonyms

• abettor
• abetter
• ally
• backer
• bedfellow
• confederate
• supporter
• sympathizer

Example Sentences

I struck up a conversation with one of my fellow travelers.

He was not a member of the Communist Party or even a fellow traveler.

Recent Examples on the Web

Veterans wanted to help a fellow veteran, older adults wanted to help a fellow traveler, and indignant SoCalGas customers wanted to blast the utility. —Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2023

Barack Obama’s foreign policies, in Pompeo’s view, made him all but a terrorist fellow traveler. —Tim Weiner, Washington Post, 24 Jan. 2023

As a fellow traveler of Robert Boyd, and admired by Dan Sperber, none of this is coincidental. —Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2013

Maren’s early encounters with possible mentors and peers in all matters of taboo cuisine run the gamut from dodgy to creepy, and include a hippiesh fellow traveler named Sully who teaches her a few life hacks in terms of feasting. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2022

Neither did anyone mind her unteachable connection to political royalty, who seemed likelier to agree to a sit-down with a fellow traveler. —Matt Flegenheimer, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2022

Originally destined for Columbus, Ohio, Southwest Airlines 192 made an emergency landing in Little Rock, Arkansas after a passenger allegedly attacked a fellow traveler on the plane. —Dan Carson, Chron, 28 Nov. 2022

Newman’s Own certainly sees Patagonia as a fellow traveler, lauding the decision. —Benjamin Soskis, Town & Country, 27 Oct. 2022

In case a fellow traveler gets confused about which duffel is his, this cheeky reminder will make sure that everyone goes home with the right bag. —Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, 25 Nov. 2022

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Word History

Etymology

translation of Russian popútčik

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above