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

Pilgrim : 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

Instead, the pilgrims became rowdy at their feast and began shooting into the air. —Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 3 Nov. 2025

Instead, the pilgrims became rowdy at their feast and began shooting into the air. —Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Oct. 2025

The water-resistant design features a grinning bird in a pilgrim hat perched atop a giant pumpkin adorned with a festive greeting. —Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025

His remains will soon draw an influx of pilgrims once again. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 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