itinerant
eye-TIN-er-uhnt
/aɪˈtɪnərənt/
Traveling from place to place, especially for work.
Specifically associated with professions like judges, preachers, or laborers who must travel to perform their duties.
The story behind the word. Derived from the Latin 'itinerare' (to journey), which comes from 'iter' (a way or journey). In the Middle Ages, it specifically referred to judges who traveled on a 'circuit' to hear cases.
Word relationships
- peripatetic: Peripatetic is more academic and often refers to walking; itinerant is the standard term for working travelers.
- settled: Living in a fixed location.
Commonly confused with
- itinerary: An itinerary is the plan of a journey; itinerant describes the person who journeys.
Word family
- itinerancy (noun): The state of traveling from place to place.
Collocations
- itinerant preacher
- itinerant worker
- itinerant lifestyle
Example sentences
- "The itinerant fruit pickers followed the harvest from state to state." Historical labor.
- "He led an itinerant existence, never staying in one city for more than a few months." Describing a lifestyle.
Memory hook
An 'itinerant' follows an 'itinerary'. The traveling worker.
When not to use
Not usually used for tourists; it implies a necessity or a professional requirement to move.
Fun facts
- The 'Itinerant Court' was a common feature of medieval kings who moved their entire household to maintain control over their lands.
Related words
Explore more words
itinerary, transient, sojourn, seasonal, intermittent, pilgrimage
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