nomad

American  

[noh-mad] / ˈnoʊ mæd /

noun

1. a member of a people or tribe that has no permanent abode but moves about from place to place, usually seasonally and often following a traditional route or circuit according to the state of the pasturage or food supply.

2. any wanderer; itinerant.

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adjective

1. nomadic.

nomad British  

/ ˈnəʊmæd /

noun

1. a member of a people or tribe who move from place to place to find pasture and food

2. a person who continually moves from place to place; wanderer

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Other Word Forms

• nomadism noun
• nonnomad noun
• seminomad noun
• seminomadism noun

Etymology

Origin of nomad

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin nomad-, from Greek, stem of nomás “roaming about for pasture,” akin to némein “to pasture, graze”

Example Sentences

Mexico City is attracting food lovers and digital nomads from all over the world.

From Los Angeles Times

It said that, as of Thursday, 11 of the nomads initially detained continued to be held.

From The Wall Street Journal

In Central Darfur, a recent truce between leaders from the Fur ethnic group - dominant here - and Arab nomads has allowed limited trade in some areas.

From BBC

They may have become nomads and hunter-gatherers to stay safe.

From BBC

As you may recall from school, hunter-gatherers followed the food; agriculture turned nomads into settlers, who turned wolves into dogs and sheep into wool.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• migrant
• pilgrim
• vagabond
• wanderer