drifter
n.n. a person who moves from place to place without a fixed home or job. In some contexts, it can also describe a person who moves between different groups or ideas.
n. a person who moves from place to place without a fixed home or job. In a figurative sense, it describes a person who lacks a consistent direction or allegiance.
He lived as a drifter for several years.
The drifter moved from town to town, looking for temporary work at the local docks.
The novel follows a drifter who navigates the shifting allegiances of a small mining community, never settling long enough to form a permanent bond with any single resident.
From drift (verb) + -er.
From drift (noun) + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 20, 2026