pilgrim

noun

pil·​grim ˈpil-grəm How to pronounce pilgrim (audio)
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 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pilgrim.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of pilgrim was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near pilgrim

Cite this Entry

“Pilgrim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pilgrim. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

pilgrim

noun
pil·​grim ˈpil-grəm How to pronounce pilgrim (audio)
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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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