passenger
gb/pˈæsənd͡ʒɚ/ us/pˈæsənd͡ʒɚ/
A2
English
~ 2100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Person riding in a vehicle
A person who rides in a car, bus, train, or other vehicle but does not drive it.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a passenger on [a vehicle]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'passenger' with 'pedestrian', but a pedestrian is walking, not riding in a vehicle.
Synonyms
rider (Often used for someone on a bicycle, motorcycle, or horse; can also refer to passengers in vehicles.)
|
commuter (Specifically refers to someone who travels regularly between home and work, often as a passenger.)
Antonyms
driver (The person operating the vehicle, opposite of someone who is just riding in it.)
Collocations
passenger seat
|passenger train
|passenger plane
|passenger bus
|passenger ship
Themes
travel
|transportation
|daily life
Examples
- The taxi had three passengers in the back seat.
- All passengers must fasten their seat belts before takeoff.
- The train was full of passengers heading to the city.
- Only passengers with valid tickets are allowed to board the ferry.
- The bus driver asked the passengers to remain seated.
Learner examples
- I was a passenger in my friend's car.
- There are many passengers on the bus.
- The passengers are waiting at the station.
- She is a passenger on the plane.
- The passenger sits next to the driver.
Noun
informal
B2
entity
2
Person not contributing to group effort
A person in a team who does little work and lets others do everything.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a passenger in [a team/activity]
Common mistake:
Some learners may think 'passenger' always means someone in a vehicle; here it means someone not helping in group work.
Synonyms
freeloader (More negative; implies taking advantage of others' work or resources.)
|
slacker (Informal; generally refers to someone lazy or avoiding work.)
Antonyms
contributor (Actively participates and adds value to group work.)
Collocations
team passenger
|workplace passenger
Themes
work
|sports
|social
|relationships
Examples
- He was just a passenger on the project, letting everyone else do the hard work.
- The coach warned that there’s no room for passengers on this team.
- In group assignments, avoid being a passenger and share the workload.
Learner examples
- He is a passenger in the team.
- She does nothing and is a passenger at work.
- No passengers are wanted for this job.
Grammar
Dictionary form
passenger
IPA
GB/pˈæsənd͡ʒɚ/
US/pˈæsənd͡ʒɚ/
Syllables & stress
pas - sen - ger (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pas)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: passenger
- Plural: passengers
Word family
Expressions
passenger plane
1/pˈæsənd͡ʒɚ plˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
Airplane for carrying people
An airplane that carries people, not goods.
Examples
- The passenger plane landed safely at the airport.
- They boarded a large passenger plane bound for New York.
passenger seat
1/pˈæsənd͡ʒɚ sˈit/
fixed phrase
Seat for non-driver in vehicle
The seat in a car or other vehicle where someone sits who is not driving.
Examples
- She put her bag on the passenger seat.
- The passenger seat was covered with a blanket.
passenger train
1/pˈæsənd͡ʒɚ tɹˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
Train for carrying people
A train that carries people, not goods.
Examples
- We took a passenger train from London to Edinburgh.
- The station only serves passenger trains.