Vagrant — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈvā-grənt/ va·grant

Meaning & Definition of Vagrant

Vagrant (noun)

  1. someone who has no established residence and wanders idly from place to place without lawful or visible means of support
  2. someone whose conduct constitutes vagrancy under state statute or other applicable law or regulation
  3. wanderer, rover

Vagrant (adjective)

  1. wandering about from place to place usually with no means of support
  2. wandering outside its normal geographic range; especially, of a bird, found outside its normal geographic range or migration route, accidental
  3. having a fleeting, wayward, or inconstant quality

Vagrant (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. traveling from place to place

    "bands of vagrant children in the streets of the impoverished city"

    similar: ambulant, ambulatory, errant, fugitive, gallivanting, itinerant, nomad, nomadic, perambulatory, peregrine, peripatetic, ranging, roaming, roving, vagabond, wandering, wayfaring, on the move
    related: drifting, footloose, meandering, rambling, sauntering, strolling, traipsing, walking, migrant, migratory
    near: immobile, nonmoving, settled, standing, static, stationary, motionless, still

Vagrant (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living

    "vagrants sleeping in cardboard boxes on the sidewalk"

    similar: bindle stiff, bum, bummer, hobo, sundowner (Australian), swaggie (chiefly Australian), swagman (chiefly Australian), tramp, vagabond
    related: drifter, roamer, transient, beggar, derelict, mendicant, panhandler, stiff, dodger, malingerer, shirker, slacker, gamine, ragamuffin, urchin, waif

  2. an idle worthless person

    "the vagrants who are a familiar sight at the city's bus terminal"

    similar: bum, derelict, do-nothing, good-for-nothing, ne'er-do-well, no-account, no-good, no-goodnik, slacker
    related: hobo, sundowner (Australian), tramp, vagabond, drifter, roamer, transient, beggar, panhandler, dodger, goldbrick, shirker, gamine, ragamuffin, urchin, waif, drone, idler, lazybones, loafer, slouch, slug, sluggard, down-and-out, indigent, pauper
    near: success, winner

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Vagrant

The most common words with a similar meaning to Vagrant:

Chiefly Australian: swaggie, swagman
Australian: sundowner
ambulant, ambulatory, errant, fugitive, gallivanting, itinerant, nomad, nomadic, perambulatory, peregrine, peripatetic, ranging, roaming, roving, vagabond, wandering, wayfaring, on the move, bindle stiff, bum, bummer, hobo, tramp, derelict, do-nothing, good-for-nothing, ne'er-do-well, no-account, no-good, no-goodnik, slacker

Related Words for Vagrant

drifting, footloose, meandering, rambling, sauntering, strolling, traipsing, walking, migrant, migratory, drifter, roamer, transient, beggar, mendicant, panhandler, stiff, dodger, malingerer, shirker, gamine, ragamuffin, urchin, waif, goldbrick, drone, idler, lazybones, loafer, slouch

Near Antonyms of Vagrant

immobile, nonmoving, settled, standing, static, stationary, motionless, still, success, winner

Word Forms of Vagrant

Inflections: vagrants

Derived words: vagrantly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Vagrant

Middle English vageraunt, vagraunt, borrowed from Anglo-French vageraunt, from present participle of vagrer "to wander about," probably blend of vaguer "to be unoccupied, wander about" (borrowed from Late Latin vagāre, Latin vagārī "to wander, roam") and waucrer, wakrer "to wander about," perhaps going back to Old Low Franconian (Frankish substratum of French) *walkaran-, frequentative derivative of Germanic *walkan- "to roll, toss" vagabond:2, walk:1

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Vagrant

What does "Vagrant" mean?

"Vagrant" means someone who has no established residence and wanders idly from place to place without lawful or visible means of support. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: someone who has no established residence and wanders idly from place to place without lawful or visible means of support. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Vagrant"?

Other words for "Vagrant" include ambulant, ambulatory, errant, fugitive, gallivanting, itinerant, nomad and nomadic. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Vagrant" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Vagrant"?

There are 69 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Vagrant". Common alternatives include ambulant, ambulatory, errant, fugitive, gallivanting, itinerant, nomad, nomadic, perambulatory and peregrine.

How do you use "Vagrant" in a sentence?

Examples of "Vagrant" in a sentence: "bands of vagrant children in the streets of the impoverished city"; "vagrants sleeping in cardboard boxes on the sidewalk"; "the vagrants who are a familiar sight at the city's bus terminal".

Is "Vagrant" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Vagrant" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Vagrant"?

"Vagrant" is pronounced /ˈvā-grənt/ and divided into syllables as va·grant.

What is the origin of the word "Vagrant"?

"Vagrant" comes from Middle English vageraunt, vagraunt, borrowed from Anglo-French vageraunt, from present participle of vagrer "to wander about," probably blend of vaguer "to be unoccupied, wander about" (borrowed from Late Latin vagāre, Latin vagārī "to wander, roam") and waucrer, wakrer "to wander about," perhaps going back to Old Low Franconian (Frankish substratum of French) *walkaran-, frequentative derivative of Germanic *walkan- "to roll, toss" vagabond:2, walk:1. First known use: 15th century.

What is another word for "Vagrant" meaning "traveling from place to place"?

When "Vagrant" (adjective) means traveling from place to place, synonyms include ambulant, ambulatory, errant, fugitive, gallivanting and itinerant.