Tourist Definition Tourist Definition 1

Tourist (noun) — A tourist is a person who goes to another place for a short time to relax, have fun, or see new things. Tourists often visit famous buildings, museums, beaches, or parks. They usually sleep in hotels, eat in restaurants and take photos of the places they like.

Part of speech:
Noun (countable)
Phonetic transcription (IPA):
/ˈtʊərɪst/
CEFR level:
A1
Word frequency:

How to Pronounce “Tourist”?

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Tips for “tourist” pronunciation: 

Start with too like in two, then say rist like in wrist. Put them together: TOO-rist. The first part is longer and the second part is short and quick.

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Examples: How to Use “Tourist” in a Sentence?

Learn how this word appears in everyday language and how it fits smoothly into different situations.

tourist asks for help to find the museum.
Tourists like to buy souvenirs.
The beach is full of tourists in summer.
I met a tourist from Spain yesterday.
The tourist takes many photos of the city.

What Are Synonyms for the Word “Tourist”?

Exploring synonyms for “tourist” helps expand your vocabulary, improve your writing and understand how the word is used in various travel and cultural contexts.

Related nouns: tourism traveler visitor

Synonyms (contextual): holidaymaker globetrotter sightseer

Common collocations: foreign tourist tourist visa tourist season

“Tourist” Word Formation and Description in Context

Discover how you can combine this word with other parts of speech to create new, meaningful language units in the form of collocations.

With adjectives: international tourist adventurous tourist curious tourist

With verbs: attract tourists guide tourists welcome tourists

With nouns (noun + noun): tourist guide tourist destination tourist bus

Idioms and Phrases with “Tourist”

What does “tourist” mean? You can already answer this question, so we invite you to strengthen your knowledge by learning these phrases to use them daily while talking about tourism.

  • Tourist trap — A place that attracts tourists but is often overpriced or not worth the money compared to the experience.

    The market looked exciting, but it turned out to be a tourist trap with high prices and low-quality souvenirs.
Tourist Idioma Tourist Idioma 1
  • Tourist hotspot — A popular destination because of its attractions, beauty, or cultural value.

    Barcelona is a major tourist hotspot, famous for its architecture, beaches and lively atmosphere.
  • Tourist visa — An official document or stamp in a passport that allows someone to enter and stay in a country for travel purposes.

    She applied for a tourist visa to visit Japan for two weeks during the spring festival.

Test Your Knowledge of Tourist Meaning — Quiz Time!

Define the tourist by completing this intellectual game to revise what you already know, making the process of learning both interactive and memorable.

Type 1: True/false statements:
Choose the correct answer:
1
A tourist is a person who travels to another place for fun, a holiday, or sightseeing.
2
The word “tourist” only describes people who travel for business.
3
Tourists may need a special paper called a tourist visa to enter another country.
Type 2: Right word order:
Put these phrases in the right order:
1
tourists
Many
visit
every
year
Paris
2
hotels
Tourists
stay
usually
in
when
traveling
3
enjoys
sightseeing
A
tourist
city
in
the
Type 3: Choose the correct option
Select the most fitting variant:
1
Paris is often seen as a ______ because millions of people visit the Eiffel Tower every year.
2
Some souvenir shops near the Colosseum are a real ______, charging high prices for nothing.
3
Before traveling to the USA, Anna applied for a ______ to enter the country legally.

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“Tourist” Word in Other Languages

Discover how to spell “tourist” in multiple languages, offering a glimpse into its global variations to boost your general knowledge.

Language Word for “Tourist”
Flag Spanish Spanish   Turístico
Flag French French   Touriste
Flag German German   Tourist

Did You Know It? Fun Facts About “Tourist”

Exploring the definition of “tourist” helps you understand not just who travels, but also the fascinating patterns and records they set around the world, from the busiest cities to the highest-spending visitors.

  • The world’s most visited country

    France has long held the title of the most visited country in the world, attracting over 90 million international tourists each year. Tourists come to Paris for its art, fashion and iconic landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. Natural beauty and luxurious experiences are offered in regions such as Provence and the French Riviera.
  • The largest tourist attraction by size

    Walt Disney World, located in Orlando, Florida, holds the world record for being the largest theme park resort with an area of approximately 25,000 acres — the size that would almost constitute the city of San Francisco.
  • The busiest city for tourists

    Bangkok, Thailand, was often ranked as the world’s most visited city, attracting 22 million international tourists every year before the pandemic. Street life, floating markets, golden temples and food culture — all of these have been weaving Bangkok into a city balancing between tradition and modernity.
  • The longest tourism boom

    The Great Wall of China, stretching over 21,000 kilometers, is the most visited paid tourist attraction in the world, receiving tens of millions of visitors annually. Tourists come not only to witness its breathtaking scale but also to connect with centuries of history, as the wall is one of the most ambitious engineering feats ever carried out by mankind.
  • The highest spending tourists

    Tourists from China have been among the best travel spenders in foreign countries. The annual numbers are running into hundreds of billions of dollars. Their travel patterns — from luxury shopping in Europe to group tours in Asia — have reshaped the global tourism map.

Famous Quotes Featuring “Tourist”

Take a closer look at how the word “tourist” found itself among well-known sayings to express certain feelings and perceptions of life.

“To be a tourist is to escape accountability.”

— Don DeLillo

Explanation: Tourists temporarily shed their everyday responsibilities, allowing themselves freedom from obligation. Travel becomes a space for indulgence and detachment.

“Some tourists think Amsterdam is a city of sin, but in truth it is a city of freedom. And in freedom, most people find sin.”

— John Greenaveler

Explanation: Greenavaler contrasts perception with reality: tourists may label Amsterdam as a “city of sin” because of its famous places and liberal culture. In reality, it is human nature that, when given liberty, people often explore behaviors that others might judge as sinful.

“Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going.”

— Paul Theroux

Explanation: Tourists follow a set path and often overlook details, while travelers embrace uncertainty and the unknown. It highlights the difference between checklist sightseeing and genuine exploration.