commuter
- 01 B1 Intermediate
someone who travels between home and work or school every day.
a person who regularly travels a significant distance between their home and place of work or study.
Simple“The morning train was packed with commuters reading the news or sleeping.”
In context“The city council is looking for ways to reduce the number of commuters who drive solo into the city center during rush hour.”
UsageOften used as a compound noun, such as 'commuter train' or 'commuter belt'.
Teacher's tipWhile 'traveler' is general, 'commuter' specifically implies a repetitive, daily routine for work or education.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a short way to talk about a train or bus used by people going to work.
a metonymic reference to a transport vehicle or system, such as a commuter train or bus service.
Simple“I usually catch the 7:15 commuter to get to the office by eight.”
In context“The regional transit authority announced that the late-night commuter would be suspended for track maintenance throughout the month of July.”
UsageUsually functions as a noun referring to the vehicle itself in casual speech.
Teacher's tipThis is a common shortening in urban areas; for example, 'I missed the commuter' instead of 'I missed the commuter train'.
Synonymsshuttlecommuter train
From commute + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.