tourist
- 01 A1 Beginner
someone who visits a place for pleasure or interest, rather than for work.
a person who travels for recreation or culture, typically staying for a short period.
Simple“The city is always full of tourists during the summer months.”
In context“Local businesses rely heavily on the influx of international tourists who visit the historic district during the peak holiday season.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
someone who has only a shallow or temporary interest in a hobby or group.
a person who engages with a subculture or community superficially without deep commitment or understanding.
Simple“The long-time fans called him a tourist because he only liked the band's most famous song.”
In context“In the coding community, he was dismissed as a tourist who only cared about the latest trends rather than the underlying architecture.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is often derogatory; it implies the person doesn't truly belong or hasn't 'earned' their place in the group.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a member of a sports team that is travelling to play matches away from home.
a member of a visiting athletic team, especially in the context of an international tour.
Simple“The Australian tourists are playing a series of matches against the local team this month.”
In context“The tourists struggled to adapt to the humid conditions during the first leg of their international cricket tour.”
SynonymsAntonymshome player
Usage tourist town · tourist attraction · tourist destination
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *terh₁-der. Ancient Greek τόρνος (tórnos)bor. Latin tornus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin tornō Old French torner Old French tourder. English tour Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ίζω (-ízō) Proto-Hellenic *-tās Ancient Greek -τής (-tḗs) Ancient Greek -ιστής (-istḗs)der. Latin -istader. Old French -istebor. Middle English -ist English -ist English tourist From tour + -ist. Doublet of turista.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.