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

In Turkey, this treatment is done on a high basis all over the country every year, and this treatment has become an important part of medical tourism in the country. —Wyles Daniel, Freep.com, 25 Nov. 2025

With the Louvre crumbling under the weight of mass tourism, des Cars has restricted the daily number of visitors to 30,000 in recent years. —CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025

But the record levels of tourism have also taken a toll on the public, which has complained about rising costs-of-living and misbehavior by foreigners, and stirred up xenophobic sentiments. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 24 Nov. 2025

This discrepancy is not because of lesser quality or clinical standards, but because of a mix of economic considerations, local technology, and a regulated medical tourism system. —Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 24 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tourism

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

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