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pedestrian
[ puh-des-tree-uhn ]
noun
- a person who goes or travels on foot; walker.
adjective
- going or performed on foot; walking.
- of or relating to walking.
- lacking in vitality, imagination, distinction, etc.; commonplace; prosaic or dull:
a pedestrian commencement speech.
pedestrian
/ pɪˈdɛstrɪən /
noun
- a person travelling on foot; walker
- ( as modifier )
a pedestrian precinct
adjective
- dull; commonplace
a pedestrian style of writing
Other Words From
- nonpe·destri·an noun adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of pedestrian1
Word History and Origins
Origin of pedestrian1
Example Sentences
Another video filmed soon after the incident showed an angry pedestrian hitting the SUV with a snow shovel while the driver is still inside.
In India, if you ask a pedestrian how many obstacles they've encountered on a footpath, they may not be able to count them - but they'll certainly tell you that most footpaths are in poor condition.
Accidents at work involving pedestrians like Mr Clarke were a major cause of fatal injuries in the workplace with 25 such recorded fatalities in 2023/24.
She said he was menacing and angry, and he shouted at her that the path was for pedestrians only.
Avon and Somerset Police said the incident, involving a pedestrian and a car, had happened between junctions 24 for Bridgwater and 25 for Taunton at around 23:00 GMT on Monday.
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More About Pedestrian
What does pedestrian mean?
A pedestrian is a person who travels by foot—a walker. The term is especially used in the context of road safety to distinguish people walking from people driving or riding bikes.
In this sense, the word is also commonly used as an adjective to refer to things involving pedestrians, such as in pedestrian crossing, pedestrian safety, and pedestrian walkway.
Example: Pedestrians will continue to be struck by cars unless we improve and enforce pedestrian safety laws.
Pedestrian is also a negative term for something considered mediocre, uninspired, or lacking in originality. It’s especially used in artistic criticism, such as in reviews of music, movies, fashion, or food. Calling something pedestrian is typically considered an insult.
Example: Don’t you think that sweater is a little pedestrian? You want to dress to impress, right?
Where does pedestrian come from?
The word pedestrian gained popularity as a word meaning “walker” in the 1700s. It comes from the Latin pedester, meaning “on foot,” from the root pēs, meaning “foot.” The root pēs and its variant ped- give us a lot of words related to feet, such as pedal and pedicure.
Throughout much of human history, you either walked or rode a horse—you were either a pedestrian or an equestrian. Then came chariots, and coaches, and bicycles, and cars. And things got a bit dangerous for people traveling by foot. Today, the word pedestrian is almost always used in the context of safety for walkers in a world with so many cars speeding around. The word is especially used in reference to areas reserved for pedestrians, such as pedestrian crosswalks and pedestrian bridges.
Walking is a good thing—noble, even—but those chariot-riding snobs sometimes looked down upon the common people who had to walk everywhere. This may be why pedestrian came to mean “commonplace” or “dull” in a way that lacks originality or inspiration. Something described as pedestrian might not be terrible, but it’s been done before—there’s nothing special about it. The word can be applied to anything considered mediocre. A bland dish at a restaurant, a boring sitcom, an unoriginal plot, or someone’s uninspired fashion sense could all be described as pedestrian. But if you use the word, be prepared for it to be taken as an insult—perhaps one that makes you sound like one of those condescending charioteers.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to pedestrian?
- pedestrianism (noun)
- pedestrianize (verb)
- nonpedestrian (noun)
What are some synonyms for pedestrian?
What are some words that share a root or word element with pedestrian?
What are some words that often get used in discussing pedestrian?
How is pedestrian used in real life?
Pedestrian is most commonly used in the context of traffic safety to differentiate between walkers, drivers, and bike riders. When it’s used to mean “commonplace” or “mediocre,” it’s always negative.
🤚Important message: From today, Crown Woods Lane is now closed to vehicles. A high number of visitors to Oxleas Woods are parking along it and blocking access for emergency vehicles and tree maintenance vehicles. Crown Woods Lane will still be open to pedestrians and cyclists.
— Royal Greenwich (@Royal_Greenwich) April 22, 2020
Pedestrian risk of being hit by a car goes up drastically at 4-way intersections. #headsupAmerica
— Pedestrian Safety (@TreyBur30354295) April 21, 2020
The only negative thing I'd say about the new Star Trek movie is that the score is a bit pedestrian. Lot to live up to though (e.g. Khan).
— Matt Gemmell (@mattgemmell) May 9, 2009
Try using pedestrian!
Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of pedestrian?
A. exceptional
B. commonplace
C. unoriginal
D. mediocre
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