passenger
- 01 A2 Elementary
a person who travels in a car, bus, train, or plane but is not the driver or a worker.
a person who travels in a conveyance, such as a vehicle or vessel, but does not operate it and is not a member of the crew.
Simple“The bus was full, so many passengers had to stand during the trip.”
In context“Airline regulations require every passenger to remain seated with their seatbelt fastened until the aircraft has reached a complete stop at the gate.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
someone in a group or team who does not do their share of the work.
an unproductive member of a team or organization who contributes little while benefiting from the efforts of others.
Simple“The manager realized that one employee was a passenger and wasn't helping the team.”
In context“In a high-stakes startup environment, the leadership cannot afford to carry any passengers who fail to meet their performance targets.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is common in British English workplace and sports contexts; it implies the person is just 'along for the ride'.
SynonymsfreeloaderslackerAntonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
one of several weapons carried inside a single large missile.
an individual warhead carried within a Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) missile.
Simple“The missile was designed to carry several passengers to different targets.”
In context“The deployment of multiple passengers from a single delivery vehicle significantly complicates the task of ballistic missile defense systems.”
Usage passenger seat
From Old French passagier with intrusive n (see etymology of messenger).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.