Passenger
PASS-en-jer
/ˈpæs.ən.dʒɚ/
A person who is traveling in a automobile, bus, train, or airplane but not operating it.
Refers strictly to non-operators. Figuratively refers to an inactive member of a team who relies on others.
The story behind the word. Derived through Middle English from Old French 'passager' (one who passes by or journeys), originating from Latin 'passus' (step or pace). Originally meant any traveler, but narrowed in modern usage to non-drivers.
Word relationships
- commuter: Commuter describes a person traveling regularly for work, who may or may not be the driver, while passenger is strictly a non-driver rider.
- rider: Rider can include horse riders or cyclists operating their vehicle, whereas passenger never operates the transport.
- driver: The driver controls the vehicle, whereas a passenger merely travels in it.
- operator: An operator controls transport equipment.
Commonly confused with
- pedestrian: A pedestrian travels on foot, while a passenger travels inside a vehicle.
Word family
- passage (noun): The act of moving or traveling through a space.
Collocations
- passenger seat
- front-seat passenger
- passenger vehicle
- passenger comfort
Idioms & expressions
- passenger seat driving
Example sentences
- "Every passenger in the vehicle is legally required to wear a seatbelt." Safety guideline
- "The passenger gazed out the side window as countryside farms flashed past." Literature passage
Memory hook
A PASSENGER PASSES through the journey while someone else drives. Rider, not driver.
When not to use
Do not apply to the driver or operator of the vehicle.
Fun facts
- The front passenger seat in North American slang is called 'shotgun', deriving from stagecoach days when a guard carrying a shotgun sat next to the driver.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.