What does "pilgrim" mean?
One who travels, especially on a journey to visit sites of religious significance.
Pilgrim
/ˈpɪlɡɹɪm/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: One who travels, especially on a journey to visit sites of religious significance.
- Grammar: pilgrim is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: abbacomes, abbot, adventurer, alpinist.
- Useful contrasts: homebody, secular, stayer.
- Usage evidence: The well-spoken man claimed to be a pilgrim, but he was actually a spy for the bandits.
How to use "pilgrim"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "pilgrim" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "pilgrim" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "pilgrim" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "pilgrim" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "pilgrim" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abbacomes" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "pilgrim", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 One who travels, especially on a journey to visit sites of religious significance.
"strangers and pilgrims on the earth"
- 2 A settler of the Plymouth Colony, who left for the New World in the early 17th century. historical, plural-normally
- 3 someone who journeys in foreign lands wordnet
- 4 One who travels, especially on a journey to visit sites of religious significance.; Synonym of early American settler. broadly
- 5 Someone connected with Plymouth Argyle Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 someone who journeys to a sacred place as an act of religious devotion wordnet
- 7 A newcomer. slang
""I wouldn't unfork that horse yet, pilgrim. I want a good look at ya first.""
- 8 one of the colonists from England who sailed to America on the Mayflower and founded the colony of Plymouth in New England in 1620 wordnet
- 9 A silk screen formerly attached to the back of a woman's bonnet to protect the neck. historical
Verb
- 1 To journey; to wander; to ramble. intransitive
"For that he hath no certain home, or diet, but pilgrims up and down every where, feeding upon all sorts of Plants"
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Example
"The well-spoken man claimed to be a pilgrim, but he was actually a spy for the bandits."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "pilgrim"?
Common synonyms include: abbacomes, abbot, adventurer, alpinist, ascetic, astronaut.
How do you use "pilgrim" in a sentence?
The well-spoken man claimed to be a pilgrim, but he was actually a spy for the bandits.
How do you pronounce "pilgrim"?
Pronounced /ˈpɪlɡɹɪm/.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English pilegrim, from Old English pilegrī̆m, from Old French pelegrin, from Latin peregrīnus (“foreigner”). Doublet of peregrine. The change of /r…r/ to /l…r/ is an effect of dissimilation in early Romance; compare Italian pellegrino.