Meaning & use
mountaineers
Last updated
“mountaineers” is a form of “mountaineer”.
Meaning
nounplural
People who climb high mountains, especially as a sport or profession.
Grammar: This is the plural of the countable noun 'mountaineer'; use it for two or more such people.
Patterns
- experienced mountaineers
- a team of mountaineers
- mountaineers climb something
The mountaineers reached the summit before sunrise.
Two experienced mountaineers led the group across the glacier.
Local mountaineers know these peaks better than any visitor.
Word forms
| singular | mountaineer |
|---|---|
| plural | mountaineers |
Common combinations
- experienced mountaineers
- Only experienced mountaineers should attempt this route in winter.
- a team of mountaineers
- A team of mountaineers was airlifted off the mountain.
- skilled mountaineers
- Skilled mountaineers carry ropes and ice axes.
- mountaineers climb peaks
- The mountaineers climbed three peaks in one week.
Synonyms and how they differ
- climbers
- Climbers can climb rocks, walls, or mountains, so it is wider; mountaineers specifically tackle high mountains, often with snow and ice.
- alpinists
- Alpinists often suggests climbing in the Alps or using alpine techniques; mountaineers is the more general everyday word.
Word family
- mountaineer noun
- One person who climbs high mountains.
- mountaineering noun
- The activity or sport of climbing high mountains.
- mountain noun
- A very high natural raised area of land.
Commonly confused: mountaineers or mountains? mountaineers or hikers?
mountaineers vs mountains
Mountains are the landforms; mountaineers are the people who climb them.
mountaineers vs hikers
Hikers walk on trails, often on hills; mountaineers climb serious high mountains and may use ropes and technical gear.
Practice
Choose the best sentence.
Choose one answer.
The plural 'mountaineers' takes a plural verb, so 'were' is correct. Option A uses a singular verb with a plural subject, and option D wrongly uses the activity noun 'mountaineering' for people.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “mountaineers”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.