pedestrian

[puh-des-tree-uhn]

noun

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

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

/ pɪˈdɛstrɪən /

noun

1. 1. a person travelling on foot; walker

   2. ( as modifier )

      a pedestrian precinct

adjective

1. dull; commonplace

   a pedestrian style of writing

Other Word Forms

• nonpedestrian noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pedestrian¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pedestrian¹

C18: from Latin pedester, from pēs foot

Example Sentences

David: Another dismal pedestrian performance from Rangers, how fans can pay to watch that team every week is beyond me.

Read more on BBC

But Shakespeare as a brand remains unparalleled in our culture: Mere invocation of his work can confer a warm, orangey glow of importance upon an otherwise pedestrian reflection on it.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The National Guard troops almost always worked in groups of two or more, often standing on street corners or walking together, letting pedestrians go about their days.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The government hopes that growth will exceed the solid pedestrian predictions of 1.5%.

Read more on BBC

She was hired just four months before the park opened but is credited as refining its pedestrian flow and crafting the gardens that eased transitions between Disneyland’s central hub and its lands.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• banal 
• humdrum 
• mediocre 
• mundane 
• plodding www.thesaurus.com
• prosaic 

When To Use

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?