nomadic
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- nomadically adverb
- nonnomadic adjective
- nonnomadically adverb
- seminomadic adjective
- seminomadically adverb
- unnomadic adjective
- unnomadically adverb
Etymology
Origin of nomadic
From the Greek word nomadikós, dating back to 1810–20. See nomad, -ic
Explanation
A nomad is someone who lives by traveling from place to place. Nomadic thus means anything that involves moving around a lot. Nomadic hunter-gatherer tribes follow the animals they hunt, carrying tents with them. You don't have to be a nomad to live a nomadic lifestyle. People who work for the state department travel from foreign country to foreign country in four-year postings––they might call this nomadic. If you change schools a lot because of your parents' moves, you could say you've had a nomadic education.
Vocabulary lists containing nomadic
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 Great Words from "Fahrenheit 451" -- Part I Vocabulary
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Mesopotamia - Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Hodgson is a widely respected figure within football after a nomadic career that brought successes - but also failure in his two most high-profile posts, as England manager and before that at Liverpool.
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
When I embarked on the nomadic life at age 38, I thought I had plenty of time to do everything I wanted.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026
These movements helped shape the rise of nomadic cultures and early empires.
From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2026
His nomadic lifestyle continued for many years, moving home 21 times before he turned 22.
From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026
Babies and small children, who move slowly and demand much attention, were a burden on nomadic foragers.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
