wayfarer

American  

[way-fair-er] / ˈweɪˌfɛər ər /

noun

1. a traveler, especially on foot.

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wayfarer British  

/ ˈweɪˌfɛərə /

noun

1. a person who goes on a journey

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Other Word Forms

• wayfaring
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of wayfarer

First recorded in 1400–50, wayfarer is from the late Middle English word weyfarere. See way ¹, fare, -er ¹

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Explanation

A wayfarer is a traveler, especially one who travels on foot. You might run into a wayfarer on a hiking trail, midway on his journey from Georgia to Maine. Sometimes the word wayfarer is used to describe someone who doesn't simply go on a hike, but who always seems to be restless, especially a journeying literary character. One of the most well-known, classic brands of sunglasses is the Ray-Ban Wayfarer, in production since the early 1950s. Wayfarer combines way with farer, from an Old English root, fær, "journey, road, passage, or expedition."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wayfarer

As far as we can tell, it’s the only vehicle on the road, a lonely wayfarer ripping through the darkness.

From Salon ● Jan. 25, 2025

For further down the line, Apple is developing a pair of AR eyeglasses that look like Ray-Ban wayfarer glasses, but The Information says those are “still many years away from release.”

From The Verge ● May 20, 2022

As do Block and TaxAct, TurboTax asks lots of questions about the likely outlays of a wayfarer in the gig economy — insurance, equipment, supplies, business use of a car and a home office.

From New York Times ● Feb. 23, 2018

Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree represented something missing from American culture: authenticity and vulnerability, a lonely wayfarer in need of encouragement and support.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 15, 2017

“Ladies, the shades of night begin to fall, the wayfarer hurries home . . .” “Nice poetry.”

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

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