traveller
gb/tɹˈævəlɚ/ us/tɹˈævəlɚ/
A2
English
~ 9100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
person who travels to places
A person who goes to different places, often to see new things or for work or holidays.
Usage pattern:
[a/an] traveller [goes] to [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'tourist' and 'traveller' as if they were exactly the same. In everyday speech they can overlap, but 'traveller' often suggests someone who takes longer or more independent trips, while 'tourist' often suggests short holidays and more typical sightseeing. Also note the spelling: British English uses 'traveller' and American English uses 'traveler'.
Synonyms
tourist (Usually someone travelling mainly for a short holiday; can sound less independent than 'traveller'.)
|
globetrotter (Informal; suggests someone who travels to many different countries, often regularly.)
|
voyager (More literary; suggests long, often difficult journeys, sometimes by sea or in space.)
Antonyms
homebody (Someone who prefers to stay at home and does not like to travel.)
|
stay-at-home (Describes a person who rarely leaves home or travels.)
Collocations
frequent traveller
|solo traveller
|seasoned traveller
|business traveller
|budget traveller
|intrepid traveller
Themes
travel
|daily life
|culture
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- As a young traveller, she spent a year exploring South America on a tight budget.
- The city is popular with backpackers and independent travellers from all over the world.
- Experienced travellers know to keep photocopies of their passports in a separate bag.
- He writes a blog offering practical advice for solo travellers in Asia.
- Even for seasoned travellers, the desert crossing was a challenging journey.
Learner examples
- The young traveller took many photos in Thailand.
- Travellers must show their passport at the border.
- She is a careful traveller and always plans her trips well.
- Many travellers visit this island in the summer.
- I want to be a traveller and see the world.
Noun
B1
entity
2
passenger using transport service
A person who is going somewhere on a train, bus, plane, or other transport, usually as a passenger.
Usage pattern:
[a] traveller on [a train/bus/flight]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this meaning with the more general idea of a 'traveller' as someone who likes travelling. In transport announcements, signs, and news reports, 'travellers' almost always means 'passengers' using a particular service at that time.
Synonyms
passenger (The most general word for someone travelling in a vehicle; does not carry the broader idea of liking to travel.)
Antonyms
non-traveller (Someone who is not currently making a journey and therefore not a passenger.)
Collocations
rail travellers
|air travellers
|domestic travellers
|international travellers
|commuter travellers
Themes
transport
|travel
|transportation
Examples
- Rail travellers faced long delays after a signal failure outside the city.
- Air travellers are advised to arrive at the airport at least two hours before departure.
- New security rules will affect all international travellers passing through the terminal.
- Special lanes have been opened for business travellers during peak times.
- The strike left thousands of commuters and long-distance travellers stranded.
Learner examples
- Many travellers waited on the platform for the late train.
- All bus travellers must buy a ticket before they get on.
- The airport was full of tired travellers.
- Travellers on this flight can use free Wi‑Fi.
- Train travellers should check the new time table.
Noun
C1
entity
3
member of Traveller ethnic group
A person from a special ethnic group in Britain or Ireland that has a travelling tradition and its own culture; the word is usually written with a capital letter: Traveller.
Usage pattern:
[a] Traveller [from] [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the general meaning of 'traveller' as someone who likes to travel. In this sense it refers to a specific ethnic group and is usually capitalized: 'Traveller'. It should not be casually replaced with other terms like 'Gypsy', which can be inaccurate or offensive depending on context and group.
Synonyms
nomad (Describes a person who moves from place to place, but does not refer to this specific ethnic group and can be inaccurate or insensitive if used instead of the proper name.)
Antonyms
settled person (Someone who lives permanently in one place, contrasting with traditionally itinerant groups.)
Collocations
Irish Travellers
|Traveller community
|Traveller families
|Traveller site
|Roma and Travellers
Themes
society
|culture
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Local councils have a legal duty to provide authorised sites for Travellers.
- The documentary follows the daily life of an Irish Traveller family.
- Members of the Traveller community have called for stronger protections against discrimination.
- She researches health outcomes among Roma and Travellers in Western Europe.
- The school runs outreach programmes to support children from Traveller backgrounds.
Learner examples
- Many Travellers in Ireland still move from place to place.
- Some Travellers live on special sites for their community.
- The government plans new services for Travellers and Roma people.
- He wrote a report about education for Traveller children.
- Travellers often face unfair treatment from other people.
Noun
technical
C2
entity
4
sliding fitting on bar or rope
A metal or plastic part that slides along a bar, rope, or track, used to change the position or tightness of another part, for example on a boat.
Usage pattern:
[a] traveller on [a track/rope/bar]
Common mistake:
Learners may assume this technical sense is related to people who travel. In engineering and sailing, a 'traveller' is a moving part, not a person. Context with boats, ropes, or mechanical tracks usually signals this meaning.
Synonyms
sliding block (A more descriptive engineering term; does not always carry the specific nautical or technical sense of 'traveller'.)
Antonyms
fixed fitting (A component that does not move along a bar or rope, contrasting with a sliding traveller.)
Collocations
mainsheet traveller
|traveller track
|boom traveller
|sliding traveller
Themes
engineering
|sports
|transport
|technology
Examples
- The mainsheet traveller allows you to trim the sail more precisely in changing winds.
- After years of use, the traveller on the boom track had started to seize up.
- Make sure the traveller is locked before you tension the line.
- On this model, the jib sheet runs through a traveller that can be adjusted along the rail.
- The faulty traveller was replaced to restore smooth movement of the carriage.
Learner examples
- The sailor moved the traveller to change the sail.
- Grease the traveller so it can slide easily on the track.
- This boat has a traveller in front of the steering wheel.
- If the traveller is stuck, the rope cannot move well.
- They checked the traveller before taking the boat out.
Noun
technical
C2
entity
5
theatre curtain opening sideways
A theatre curtain that moves to the left and right from the middle, along a track, to open and close the stage.
Usage pattern:
[a] traveller curtain [moves] along [a track]
Common mistake:
Because this sense is rare and technical, learners may misinterpret it as referring to a person. In theatre contexts, especially with words like 'curtain', 'stage', or 'track', 'traveller' usually means this special kind of curtain.
Synonyms
draw curtain (A more general term for a curtain that is pulled horizontally, not specific to theatre jargon.)
Antonyms
fly curtain (A curtain that moves up and down vertically, contrasting with a sideways-moving traveller.)
Collocations
front traveller
|rear traveller
|black traveller
|traveller curtain
Themes
arts
|entertainment
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The front traveller was closed while the crew reset the scene behind it.
- A simple traveller can hide complex set changes from the audience.
- They installed a new black traveller to provide a clean backdrop for projections.
Learner examples
- The traveller opened, and the show began.
- Stage workers pulled the traveller to hide the actors.
- A traveller moves sideways, not up and down.
- The theatre bought a new black traveller for the stage.
- The director asked for the traveller to close slowly.
Grammar
Dictionary form
traveller
IPA
GB/tɹˈævəlɚ/
US/tɹˈævəlɚ/
Syllables & stress
trav - el - ler (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (trav)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: traveller
- Plural: travellers
Word family
Expressions
armchair traveller
1/ˈɑɹmt͡ʃˌɛɹ tɹˈævəlɚ/
idiom
person who travels only via media
Someone who enjoys reading about or watching videos of other places instead of actually going there.
Examples
- The series is perfect for the armchair traveller who wants to see the world without leaving home.
- As an armchair traveller, he knows a lot about Europe but has never been there.
- Travel blogs have made it easy for armchair travellers to explore remote regions online.
fellow traveller
1/fˈɛloʊ tɹˈævəlɚ/
idiom
sympathizer not formal member
Someone who agrees with or supports a group or idea but is not an official member of that group.
Examples
- He was seen as a fellow traveller of the environmental movement, though he never joined a party.
- Critics accused the journalist of being a fellow traveller of extremist groups.
- The organization attracts not only members but also many fellow travellers who share its goals.
traveller's cheque
1/tɹˈævəlɚz t͡ʃˈɛk/
fixed phrase
prepaid cheque used while travelling
A special cheque you buy before a trip and can change for money or use to pay in other countries; it is safer than carrying a lot of cash.
Examples
- She used traveller's cheques instead of cash during her first trip abroad.
- These days most banks encourage customers to use cards rather than traveller's cheques.
- Make sure you write down the numbers of your traveller's cheques in case they are lost or stolen.