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

Makkah is part of the Clock Tower complex, which includes seven hotels that cater to the millions of pilgrims who visit Mecca each year. —Nathalie Nietzsche-Knappe, Architectural Digest, 7 Apr. 2026

The Austrian Hospice urges groups of Christian pilgrims to book 16 months ahead. —Sammy Westfall, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2026

The blessing has also been delivered to audiences of pilgrims to Rome during Holy Years, which are church celebrations observed for one full year every 25 years. —Leo Xiv, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Apr. 2026

Experience the collective awe of watching Old Faithful erupt with a few hundred of your fellow pilgrims in Yellowstone National Park. —Bing Pan, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2026

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