pilgrim

noun

pil·​grim ˈpil-grəm 

1

: one who journeys in foreign lands : wayfarer

2

: one who travels to a shrine or holy place as a devotee

3

capitalized : one of the English colonists settling at Plymouth in 1620

Examples of pilgrim in a Sentence

Thousands of Muslim pilgrims traveled to Mecca.

Recent Examples on the Web

Saudi’s Transport General Authority introduced self-driving buses during the 2023 Hajj season in July, shuttling pilgrims in Mecca, according to local media. —Aimee Look, CNN, 27 Sep. 2023

During the day, pilgrims circulate on Pushkina Street, the main drag in Uman’s tiny Jewish neighborhood. —Jeffrey Gettleman Daniel Berehulak, New York Times, 17 Sep. 2023

Dempsey, 57, is shown wearing a sheriff's uniform, just before a serial killer dressed as a pilgrim utilizes a restaurant's freezer room to commit a gruesome murder. —Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2023

These cemetery pilgrims usually arrive on November 1 (All Saints' Day) and depart on November 2 — All Souls' Day, the official Day of the Dead. —Christin Parcerisa Vigueras, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2023

The Spanish founded it in 1565—decades before the English established Jamestown and the pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock. —Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Oct. 2023

Some pilgrims complained equally bitterly about the Ukrainians, accusing them of being cold and suspicious. —Jeffrey Gettleman Daniel Berehulak, New York Times, 17 Sep. 2023

Jewish pilgrims gathered in central Ukraine to mark Rosh Hashanah, the celebration of the Jewish new year, which began at sunset Friday and ended at sundown Sunday. —Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 17 Sep. 2023

Hong Kong Cardinal-elect Stephen Chow, who made a historic visit to Beijing earlier this year, accompanied 40 pilgrims to Mongolia. —Nicole Winfield and Saruul Enkhbold, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Sep. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French pelerin, pilegrin, from Late Latin pelegrinus, alteration of Latin peregrinus foreigner, from peregrinus, adjective, foreign, from peregri abroad, from per through + agr-, ager land — more at for, acre

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pilgrim

• pilgrim bottle

• pilgrim bottle

Kids Definition

pilgrim

noun

pil·​grim ˈpil-grəm 

1

: one who journeys in foreign lands : traveler

2

: a person who travels to a shrine or holy place to worship

3

capitalized : one of the English colonists who founded the first permanent settlement in New England at Plymouth in 1620