tourism

noun

tour·​ism ˈtu̇r-ˌi-zəm 

1

: the practice of traveling for recreation

2

: the guidance or management of tourists

3

a

: the promotion or encouragement of touring

b

: the accommodation of tourists

Examples of tourism in a Sentence

The city developed the riverfront to encourage tourism.

She has a job in tourism.

Recent Examples on the Web

The island’s tourism sector had taken a hit in the pandemic and has not rebounded since. — Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 6 July 2026

Rising costs and a lack of tourism have made the business increasingly difficult to sustain. — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

All of them, of course, are doing a crude sort of propaganda for their respective countries, or, more generously, acting as a travelling tourism board. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 7 July 2026

Many residents relied on tourism, and local businesses depended on suppliers in La Guaira, but some of those suppliers no longer have buildings or have lost their lives. — Catherine Ellis, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tourism

• ism
• prism
• schism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism
• americanism
• anticommunism
• antisemitism
• antiterrorism
• bioterrorism
• colloquialism
• colonialism

Kids Definition

tourism

noun

tour·​ism ˈtu̇(ə)r-ˌiz-əm 

: the practice of traveling for pleasure or the business of encouraging and serving such traveling