tourist

American  

[toor-ist] / ˈtʊər ɪst /

noun

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

• nontourist noun
• touristic adjective

Etymology

Origin of tourist

First recorded in 1770–80; tour + -ist

Example Sentences

As a tourist site, it is currently run by the National Park Service.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Soleimani Afshar came to the U.S. in 2015 on a tourist visa and was granted asylum in 2019, according to Department of Homeland Security Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

Australian tourist Olivia Martell-Groves went all in for the seasonal experience, and donned a flower-printed kimono while marvelling at the flowers.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Measures have included throttling tourist flights to Japan and pinching Japanese firms’ access to rare-earth minerals and magnets essential for manufacturing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

The idea of going to a quaint tourist destination now is especially absurd.

From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• sightseer
• traveler
• visitor