vagabond

noun

vag·a·bond | \ ˈva-gə-ˌbänd

Definition of vagabond

(Entry 1 of 3)

: a person who wanders from place to place without a fixed home : one leading a vagabond life especially : vagrant, tramp

vagabond

adjective

Definition of vagabond (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : moving from place to place without a fixed home : wandering

2a : of, relating to, or characteristic of a wanderer

b : leading an unsettled, irresponsible, or disreputable life

vagabond

verb

vagabonded; vagabonding; vagabonds

Definition of vagabond (Entry 3 of 3)

intransitive verb

: to wander in the manner of a vagabond : roam about

Other Words from vagabond Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about vagabond

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Other Words from vagabond

Noun

vagabondage \ ˈva-gə-ˌbän-dij

\ noun

vagabondism \ ˈva-gə-ˌbän-ˌdi-zəm

\ noun

Adjective

vagabondish \ ˈva-gə-ˌbän-dish

\ adjective

Examples of vagabond in a Sentence

Noun

be wary of the vagabonds in that corner of the city after they retired, the couple bought an RV and became footloose vagabonds

Adjective

a vagabond group of entertainers that performed in rough-and-tumble mining towns

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Jail would be the common denominator in his cross-country vagabond life. — Kyle Swenson, The Seattle Times, "Elderly prisoner claims he’s America’s deadliest serial killer with 90 victims. Police believe him.," 20 Nov. 2018 Indeed, many of the vignettes found in this fictionalized version of the American West are beautiful, and many of the real-world experiences of vagabonds and frontier folk are distilled into some exceptional arcs. — Daniel Starkey, Ars Technica, "Red Dead Redemption II review: Getting muddy in the wide-open frontier," 25 Oct. 2018 He was charged with theft, rogue and vagabond, and disorderly conduct. — Washington Post, "Crime reports for Anne Arundel and Howard counties and for Annapolis," 9 May 2018 The rink closed for several months, leaving him a skating vagabond. — JerÉ Longman, New York Times, "The Greatest Figure Skater Ever Is Michael Jackson on Ice, Surrounded by Winnie the Poohs," 4 Jan. 2018 For hundreds of years before the Italian vagabond ventured east, it had been used as a spice and natural medicine across India and Asia. — Doug Williams, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Turmeric: superfood or superhype," 25 June 2018 Howard's decision to stay in Orlando marked the beginning of the vagabond stage of his career. — Tim Bontemps, chicagotribune.com, "Dwight Howard traded again, this time to the Brooklyn Nets," 20 June 2018 The Warriors sign hoops vagabond Quinn Cook to a two-way (G League and NBA) contract. — Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, "Fun times throughout Warriors’ championship season," 10 June 2018 The little colony of vagabonds lovingly constructed the huts' plywood overlaid with plastic sheeting to hold back the rain. — Scott Harrison, latimes.com, "From the Archives: A few weeks in paradise for 1984 urban nomads," 23 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

By modern standards, Wray's story feels like rock and roll lore that edges on pulp: As a child, he was raised in poverty in Dunn, North Carolina, and learned to play guitar from a vagabond bluesman named Hambone. — Colin Stutz, Billboard, "Link Wray's Daughter Talks Rock Hall Nomination: 'Dad Is the Trunk of the Rock and Roll Tree'," 10 Oct. 2017 Hill’s book teems with sloppy and obvious devices (to the point of cliche), including a vagabond narrator (Steve Pacek) preempting for us the obvious songs that require no explanation. — Jim Rutter, Philly.com, "Spectacular staging offsets lackluster score of 'Something Wicked'," 24 Sep. 2017 The vagabond fair has set up in a half-dozen different locations over the past 41 years, but it was forced to cancel its plans in recent years because of the problems securing city permits. — Larry Barszewski, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Broward County Fair plans return after 5-year absence," 22 Sep. 2017 Spoiler alert: The Glass Castle, in theaters now and based on journalist Jeannette Walls’ 2005 best-selling memoir about her vagabond childhood, boasts one of the most unexpected, triumphant, hide-under-your-couch scenes in recent film history. — Justine Harman, Glamour, "Max Greenfield Knows He Plays a Good 'Well-Intentioned' Jerk," 16 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vagabond.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for vagabond

Adjective

Middle English vacabounde, vagabounde, borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French vacabunde, borrowed from Late Latin vagābundus, from Latin vagārī "to wander, roam" (verbal derivative of vagus "moving freely, wandering") + -bundus, deverbal adjective suffix (akin to Latin fuī "I was," Old English bēon "to be") — more at vague, be