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passenger

passenger

975 1.0
A person who travels in a car, train, or bus but does not drive it
  • noun
  • /ˈpæsɪndʒər/
translation icon : pasajero
  • All passengers must depart the train.
  • a passenger car
  • carry passengers
  • a passenger ship

But don't worry, the passengers are like having a little holiday.

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Examples

  • Attention, all passengers!

  • In the United States and many other countries, passengers are carried by numerous independent airlines.

    Academic text (1990)
  • I think some of your passengers may need your help.

  • Not a trace of the plane or its passengers has ever been found.

  • Suddenly the pilot and the passengers felt this jolt.

  • Space flights will last approximately 2.5 hours, carry six passengers, and reach a speed of Mach 3.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Named after Jonathan Swift, the ferry is designed to carry 800 passengers and 200 cars.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The Immigration Hall is filled with passengers arriving from Earth, queued up in three long lines.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Among the passengers was celebrated screen actress Carole Lombard.

  • The train was crowded, and every passenger had to find their seat quickly.

Synonyms

rider
vspassenger
233 2.0

A person who rides a bike, horse, or motorcycle

is limited to people in vehicles who do not operate them
farer
vspassenger
  • Archaic
8.8

A person who pays to ride a bus or train

is any person in a vehicle not controlling or operating it rather than only fare payers

Antonyms

1.0

A person who controls a car or bus

Compounds

9 2.6

A part of a train that carries people

A train that carries people, not goods

A large ship that carries people, not cargo

A bus or train that carries many people

2 2.3

A van that carries people rather than goods

1 9.5

A large North American pigeon that lived in huge flocks but is now extinct

How Often

driver
1.0
automobilist
  • Archaic
7.7
passenger
975 1.0
nondriver
1 5.4

Surface Forms

passenger singular
passengers plural

Morphology

passenger = pass (transparent) = pass + enger

The word is formed from the common verb 'pass' with an agentive formation indicating a person who is carried or travels, which aligns with the modern meaning.

Etymology

Passenger comes from the simple verb pass, which means 'to go by' or 'move past'. So a passenger is someone who 'goes along' in a car, train, or plane rather than the person who is driving.