Definition of gadabout
: a person who flits about in social activity
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gadabout was our Word of the Day on 06/28/2014. Hear the podcast!
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Examples of gadabout in a Sentence
she was a thoughtful gadabout, always picking up souvenirs for her friends from wherever her travels took her
Did You Know?
If you had to pick the insect most closely related to a gadabout, you might wryly guess the "social butterfly." But there's another bug that's commonly heard buzzing around discussions of gadabout-the gadfly. Gadfly is a term used for any of a number of winged pests (such as horseflies) that bite or annoy livestock. Since gadflies are known for their nasty bite, it's not surprising that they are named after a sharp chisel or pointed bar used by miners to loosen rock and ore called a gad. But, although a gadabout's gossip can bite, gadfly doesn’t have any clear etymological relation to gadabout, which traces back to the Middle English verb gadden, meaning "to wander without a specific aim or purpose."
Origin and Etymology of gadabout
GADABOUT Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of gadabout for English Language Learners
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: a person who goes to many places and social events for pleasure
GADABOUT Defined for Kids
Definition of gadabout for Students
: a person who goes to many different places for enjoyment
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