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

Cheever’s fiction would provide images that would become emblematic of midcentury American life: plush lawns, boozy parties, men in hats waiting for commuter trains into the city.

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As the area became more popular over the years, leading to mounting tensions between skiers, commuters, snowplow drivers and highway-patrol officials, Pistono worked to keep the peace.

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

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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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Related Words

• driver 
• traveler