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

But for the sun-seeking pilgrims who’ve already spent too much time in the car, that rambling building practically radiates golden light. —Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 17 May 2025

But many other pilgrims were simply happy to be on hand for a historic moment. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 11 May 2025

After midday when the black smoke wafted, thousands spilled out of the square and across the River Tiber like pilgrims following Constantine the Great. —Katie Primm, NBC news, 9 May 2025

So many smaller routes were established by pilgrims making their way from their homes and are named accordingly: The Camino Portugués travels northwards through Portugal, while the Camino Inglés catered to English pilgrims who arrived on the north coast by boat. —Craig Martin, Outside Online, 8 May 2025

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

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