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 addition, the bill would give Chicago the opportunity to pay off development project debt with Sales Tax and Revenue, or STAR bonds, which support economic development related to tourism, entertainment or retail projects, Buckner said. —Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026

Exact visitation numbers and demographics are under lock and key, not even accessible to the state’s tourism office, Explore Minnesota. —Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026

Two months out from the start of the games, Houston’s tourism office tells CNN that hotel bookings are up 30% for June, compared to the same time last year, and up 70% for the first week of July compared to the previous period. —Vivian Song, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026

The cultural spillover into tourism is also quantified in the report. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026

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