pedestrian

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin pedester, root pedestri- (from pedes) + -an (suffix forming adjectives).

Pronunciation

  • enPR: pə-dĕʹstrē-ən, IPA(key): /pəˈdɛst.ɹi.ən/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Adjective

pedestrian (comparative more pedestrian, superlative most pedestrian)

  1. (not comparable) Of or intended for those who are walking.
    pedestrian crossing
    pedestrian zone
    • 2016, Alan Marshall, Ecotopia 2121: A Vision for Our Future Green Utopia in 100 Cities:
      The piezoelectric pedestrian tubeways depicted for Shanghai 2121 will provide all-weather pedestrian transportation citywide.
  2. (comparable, figurative) Ordinary, dull; everyday; unexceptional.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:common
    His manner of dress was pedestrian but tidy.
    a pedestrian life
    • 2016 June 11, Phil McNulty, “England 1-1 Russia”, in BBC Sport‎[1]:
      England were hugely impressive in the first half in particular, when their supporters inside this magnificent bowl at Stade Velodrome roared their approval as Russia were pressed into submission and made to look pedestrian.
    • 2016, Paradox Interactive, Stellaris (video game), scene: Anomaly Event 3086:
      Their prose is pedestrian, their ideas weak. Hail them.
  3. (dance) Pertaining to ordinary, everyday movements incorporated in postmodern dance.
    The choreographer prefers pedestrian movements.

Translations

Noun

pedestrian (plural pedestrians)

  1. A walker; one who walks or goes on foot, especially as opposed to one who uses a vehicle.
    Synonyms: footer, footgoer, footfarer
    Hyponym: (archaic) footman
    • 1912, Ralph Davol, Two Men of Taunton: In the Course of Human Events, 1731-1829, page 214:
      […] how the troops came marching out for evening exercise under Captain Preston; how pedestrians and street urchins taunted them, shouting "Lobsters," "Bloody-backs," and flinging snow-balls, turnips, […]
  2. (dated) An expert or professional walker or runner; one who performs feats of walking or running.
    Synonym: walkist

Derived terms

English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ped- (0 c, 67 e)

Translations

Further reading

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