tourist

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A person who travels to a place for pleasure, sightseeing, or vacation rather than for work.

   Grammar: Countable: a tourist, tourists. Can be used before another noun: 'tourist attraction'.

   Patterns

   • a tourist from somewhere
   • tourist attraction
   • tourist destination

   Thousands of tourists visit the ancient ruins every year.

   The city is full of tourists in the summer.

   She works as a tour guide for foreign tourists.

2. 2nouncountabledisapproving

   A person who travels for pleasure but is seen as only interested in surface attractions, sometimes used disapprovingly.

   Grammar: Often used with a slightly negative tone, contrasting with 'traveler'.

   Patterns

   • just a tourist
   • typical tourist

   He doesn't like being called a tourist; he prefers to think of himself as a traveler.

   The locals complained that tourists only come for the beaches and ignore the culture.

Word forms

Common combinations

tourist attraction

The Eiffel Tower is a famous tourist attraction.

tourist destination

Bali is a popular tourist destination.

foreign tourist

Foreign tourists bring a lot of money into the country.

tourist season

Hotels are expensive during the tourist season.

Synonyms and how they differ

traveler

A more neutral word for someone who travels; 'tourist' can sound less respectful, suggesting a casual visitor.

visitor

A general word for someone who visits a place; 'tourist' specifically implies traveling for pleasure.

sightseer

Focuses on looking at famous places; a tourist may also relax or shop.

Opposites

Word family

tourism noun

The business or activity of traveling for pleasure.

touristic adjective

Relating to tourists or tourism.

Commonly confused: tourist or tourism?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “tourist”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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