# passenger

/ˈpæsəndʒɝ/ (US) · /pˈæsɪndʒɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/passenger
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. traveler

noun · CEFR A2

a person who travels in a car, bus, train, or plane but is not the driver or a worker.

For teachers: 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.

- The bus was full, so many passengers had to stand during the trip.
- Airline regulations require every passenger to remain seated with their seatbelt fastened until the aircraft has reached a complete stop at the gate.

### 2. unproductive person

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

someone in a group or team who does not do their share of the work.

For teachers: an unproductive member of a team or organization who contributes little while benefiting from the efforts of others.

- The manager realized that one employee was a passenger and wasn't helping the team.
- In a high-stakes startup environment, the leadership cannot afford to carry any passengers who fail to meet their performance targets.

Teaching tip: This sense is common in British English workplace and sports contexts; it implies the person is just 'along for the ride'.

### 3. missile warhead

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

one of several weapons carried inside a single large missile.

For teachers: an individual warhead carried within a Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) missile.

- The missile was designed to carry several passengers to different targets.
- The deployment of multiple passengers from a single delivery vehicle significantly complicates the task of ballistic missile defense systems.

## Examples

- The bus was full of passengers going to work.
- The airline asked all passengers to remain in their seats until the plane reached the gate.
- Safety regulations require every passenger to wear a seatbelt, regardless of whether they are seated in the front or the rear of the vehicle.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.