pedestrian

American  

[puh-des-tree-uhn] / pəˈdɛs tri ən /

noun

1. a person who goes or travels on foot; walker.

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adjective

1. going or performed on foot; walking.

2. of or relating to walking.

3. lacking in vitality, imagination, distinction, etc.; commonplace; prosaic or dull.

   a pedestrian commencement speech.

pedestrian British  

/ pɪˈdɛstrɪən /

noun

1. 1. a person travelling on foot; walker

   2. ( as modifier )

      a pedestrian precinct

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adjective

1. dull; commonplace

   a pedestrian style of writing

Usage

What does pedestrian mean? A pedestrian is a person who travels by foot—a walker. The term is especially used in the context of road safety to distinguish people walking from people driving or riding bikes. In this sense, the word is also commonly used as an adjective to refer to things involving pedestrians, such as in pedestrian crossing, pedestrian safety, and pedestrian walkway. Example: Pedestrians will continue to be struck by cars unless we improve and enforce pedestrian safety laws. Pedestrian is also a negative term for something considered mediocre, uninspired, or lacking in originality. It’s especially used in artistic criticism, such as in reviews of music, movies, fashion, or food. Calling something pedestrian is typically considered an insult. Example: Don’t you think that sweater is a little pedestrian? You want to dress to impress, right?

Other Word Forms

• nonpedestrian noun

Etymology

Origin of pedestrian

1710–20; < Latin pedestri- (stem of pedester on foot, derivative of pēs (stem ped- ); pedi- ) + -an

Explanation

A pedestrian is someone traveling by foot. If you're a pedestrian, you will likely get annoyed at the drivers who don't stop so you can cross the street. Pedestrian comes from the Latin pedester meaning "going on foot" but also "plain." As a noun, it's someone walking around — sidewalks are for pedestrians. As an adjective it means "lacking wit or imagination." If someone calls your new poem pedestrian, they mean it's dull. If you want to impress your friends while also making them feel worthless, mutter "these people are SO pedestrian," at a party, loud enough for everyone to hear.

Example Sentences

While today’s numbers look pedestrian, it’s about where the indexes came from: The Nasdaq was down nearly 2.2% at its low on Thursday, while the S&P was down 1.5%.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

With Game 3 of the World Series underway at Dodger Stadium last October, a few folks scurried across a pedestrian bridge with LED lights and blue glow sticks.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

It was a pedestrian start to Littler's semi-final with Van Gerwen, with the Dutchman taking time to warm up having received a bye due to Gian van Veen having to pull out with kidney stones.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

The timber and wood products play is having a pedestrian 2026 so far, with a return of 2%.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

“Oh, just my mother and father and uncle sitting around, talking. It's like being a pedestrian, only rarer. My uncle was arrested another time-did I tell you?-for being a pedestrian. Oh, we're most peculiar.”

From "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury

Related Words

• banal
• humdrum
• mediocre
• mundane
• plodding
• prosaic