English Reference
noun

visitor

n.
US /ˈvɪzɪtɝ/ UK /vˈɪzɪtɐ/ vis·i·tor UK spelling visitor's, visitor's

  1. 01 A1 Beginner

    someone who goes to see a person or a place like a museum or a park.

    an individual who visits a person, place, or event for a limited duration.

    Simple

    The museum gets thousands of visitors every weekend during the summer.

    In context

    The gallery staff were instructed to provide assistance to any visitor who appeared confused by the new layout of the permanent collection.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate Sport

    a person or sports team playing a game away from their own home ground.

    the visiting team or its supporters in a competitive sporting context.

    Simple

    The visitors scored a goal in the final minute of the match.

    In context

    Despite the hostile atmosphere created by the home crowd, the visitors maintained their composure and secured a narrow victory.

    away teamopposition
  3. 03 C1 Advanced Formal Law

    a person with the power to check that a school or hospital is being run correctly.

    an official appointed to inspect or oversee the administration of an institution.

    Simple

    The university visitor was called in to settle the dispute between the professors.

    In context

    The board appointed an independent visitor to conduct a thorough review of the hospital's safety protocols following the incident.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate HumorousInformal Science

    a being from another planet that comes to Earth.

    a hypothetical extraterrestrial being visiting Earth.

    Simple

    The movie is about a friendly visitor from a distant galaxy.

    In context

    Science fiction writers often use the arrival of a mysterious visitor as a catalyst for exploring human nature and societal fears.


Partly from Middle English visiter, visitere, equivalent to visit + -er; and partly from Middle English visitour, from Anglo-Norman visitour, from Old French visetëor. By surface analysis, visit + -or.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Old French visetëor
Level A1 · Beginner
Frequency Common
Updated