commuter

[kuh-myoo-ter]

noun

1. a person who commutes, especially between home and work.

adjective

1. of or for commuting; serving commuters.

   a commuter railroad.

2. of or relating to a flight, plane, or airline that carries passengers over relatively short distances and usually serves small communities.

commuter

/ kəˈmjuːtə /

noun

1. 1. a person who travels to work over an appreciable distance, usually from the suburbs to the centre of a city

   2. ( as modifier )

      the commuter belt

Word History and Origins

Origin of commuter¹

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65; commute + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Most of the rain is expected to occur Monday night through Tuesday afternoon, potentially creating a headache for commuters.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It would leave Scottish commuters and schoolchildren making their winter morning journeys in darkness - bringing increased risks on the roads.

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The commuters in “Le Métro” hark back to his early streetcar scenes but now there’s an air of mystery to the straphangers, with the central figure’s face obscured and bisected by a subway pole.

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The new law, formerly known as SB79, is poised to make it easier for developers to build multistory apartment buildings near major bus or commuter rail stops.

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They represent New Jersey’s massive “commuter class,” found in affluent suburbs close to New York City.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• driver 
• traveler