pedestrian

American  

[puh-des-tree-uhn] / pəˈdɛs tri ən /

noun

• pedestrians
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• nonpedestrian
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• pedestrians
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pedestrian

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

See Examples For:

pedestrian pedestrians

The fight in San Francisco mirrors friction nationwide in cities that have increasingly installed bike lanes and converted streets to pedestrian use.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

AFP reporters saw traces of an explosion on a pedestrian walkway and technicians repairing power lines on the bridge.

From Barron's ● Oct. 3, 2026

There have also been a number of pedestrian deaths, including 86-year-old grandmother Gloria Stephenson, who was struck at a zebra crossing in Sunderland last year by an illegal e-motorbike.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

As Berkshire’s value passed a mere $1 trillion, its returns have looked pedestrian and it has built up the biggest cash hoard in history.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

A single pedestrian wanders down the sidewalk, and a gardener is carefully trimming a nearby hedge—but aside from the faint clip-clip-clip sound of his shears, it’s quiet.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

Now, Dutch Bros might extend its play for pedestrians into other densely populated areas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

For decades, the main walkway through the university’s Morningside Heights campus was publicly accessible, giving families an open space to enjoy and allowing pedestrians a shortcut through the grounds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

Gonzaba then allegedly fled on foot but nearby pedestrians detained him until officers arrived and arrested him, according to the release.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

"Numerous cars and properties have been damaged and people have told me of near misses of pedestrians, some pushing prams."

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

He continued on his way, through the stream of pedestrians, whistling and tapping his cane on the brick sidewalk, completely unaware of the two men who’d stepped into his wake.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Related Words

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