tourist

American  

[toor-ist] / ˈtʊər ɪst /

noun

• tourists
  plural

1. a person who is traveling, especially for pleasure.

2. tourist class.

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adverb

1. in tourist-class accommodations, or by tourist-class conveyance.

   to travel tourist.

tourist British  

/ ˈtʊərɪst /

noun

1. 1. a person who travels for pleasure, usually sightseeing and staying in hotels

   2. ( as modifier )

      tourist attractions

2. a person on an excursion or sightseeing tour

3. a person travelling abroad as a member of a sports team that is playing a series of usually international matches

4. Also called: tourist class.  the lowest class of accommodation on a passenger ship

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adjective

1. of or relating to tourist accommodation

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nontourist
  noun
• touristic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• tourists
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tourist

First recorded in 1770–80; tour + -ist

Explanation

Someone who visits a city, town, or historic site just for the pleasure of exploring it can be described as a tourist. When you travel for fun, you're a tourist. Some local inhabitants of vacation destinations might have a negative image of obnoxious, camera-toting tourists, but really they're just travelers who are curious about different parts of the world. Beaches, amusement parks, castles, and big cities are all places you're likely to run into tourists. The term "tourist trap," or a place that exists only to take tourists' money, was first used in 1939 by the novelist Graham Greene.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tourist tourists

Over the years, the ubiquity of “More Than a Feeling” unfairly categorized “Boston” as an arena-rock tourist trap.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

Sleepy villages that would normally never feature in a typical tourist itinerary have suddenly found themselves inundated with eclipse hunters from around the world.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

And unfortunately for Tom — but luckily for the show’s fans — those supernatural forces have been reawakened, just in time for the summer tourist season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

The wildfire at the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, a major tourist attraction closed to visitors since Saturday, is one of several that have drawn in nearly 50,000 firefighters countrywide.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

I moved with the awkwardness of a tourist, aware that we were outsiders, even with our black skin.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

High-speed boats ferrying tourists between idyllic islands have turned Odyssean for some travelers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Officials said some tourists were staying away because of the intensifying heatwaves in the Italian capital.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

Around 1,200 residents and tourists were evacuated, while 10 people were in intensive care in hospital, the prime minister said.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

Egypt is poised for further growth, while demand for trips to Turkey rebounded after hotels cut prices to entice budget-conscious tourists, according to the chief of the German travel group .

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

He goes back and forth on the docks, hosing down the charter boats, once the tourists and fish are gone.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• sightseer
• traveler
• visitor