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

The city is home to the shrine of Imam Reza, the eighth Imam of Shia Islam, and holds deep religious significance for millions of pilgrims. — Emma Graham, CNBC, 4 July 2026

He and Feddon recited prayers, which the priest had found for him, that pilgrims have spoken for generations along the Camino. — Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 30 June 2026

The steeply descending main street of Haworth is filled with tea shops, pubs and stores clearly dedicated to pleasing Brontë pilgrims, but its basic form, including the original stationery store where the sisters once bought their paper, remains the same. — Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2026

In Iraq, pilgrims converge on the holy city of Karbala, site of the battle and home to a shrine to Hussein. — ABC News, 25 June 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