passenger

noun

pas·​sen·​ger ˈpa-sᵊn-jər How to pronounce passenger (audio)
Synonyms of passengernext
often attributive
1
: wayfarer
2
: a traveler in a public or private conveyance

Examples of passenger in a Sentence

There were two passengers in the car in addition to the driver. There's no room for passengers on this project; everybody must do his share of the work.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Completed in 1880 as part of the race to reach Leadville’s rich silver mines, the line once served as a major passenger and freight corridor through the Rocky Mountains. — Jocelyn Rowley, Denver Post, 25 Aug. 2026 The accident involved a passenger vehicle and an RV pulling a trailer, according to a news release. — Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 25 Aug. 2026 Al-Marimi is charged with making the bomb that downed the Pan Am flight, killing all 259 passengers and crew members. — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026 The blast killed all 259 passengers and crew members and 11 people on the ground in Lockerbie, where the wreckage destroyed an entire city block. — CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for passenger

Word History

Etymology

Middle English passager, from Anglo-French, from passage path, way, passage, from passer

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of passenger was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing passenger

Browse Nearby Words

passemezzo
passenger
passenger car
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Passenger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passenger. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

passenger

noun
pas·​sen·​ger ˈpas-ᵊn-jər How to pronounce passenger (audio)
: a person riding in or on a vehicle

More from Merriam-Webster on passenger

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for passenger

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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