nomad

noun

no·​mad ˈnō-ˌmad How to pronounce nomad (audio)
Synonyms of nomadnext
1
: a member of a people who have no fixed residence but move from place to place usually seasonally and within a well-defined territory
For centuries nomads have shepherded goats, sheep, and cattle across the … semiarid grasslands …— Discovery
2
: an individual who roams about
He lived like a nomad for a few years after college, never holding a job in one place for very long.
nomad adjective
nomadism
ˈnō-ˌma-ˌdi-zəm How to pronounce nomad (audio)
noun

Synonyms

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Examples of nomad in a Sentence

He lived like a nomad for a few years after college, never holding a job in one place for very long. after college she became quite the nomad, backpacking through Europe with no particular destination
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.
Their weapon, the Sarmat, is named for centuries-old nomads who traversed the steppe on horse. — Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Feb. 2025 Inspired by the plight of the serfs and his experience among Siberian nomads and the watchmakers of Jura, Switzerland, among other influences, Kropotkin became a luminary of anarchist communism. — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 4 Feb. 2025 That gave rise to the idea that the outer area may have been seasonal quarters for nomads, who took shelter behind the walls with their herds during the twice-yearly trek from lowland to highlands back again. — Ars Technica, 9 Jan. 2025 The most successful nomads know how to motivate themselves. — Jodie Cook, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nomad

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin Nomades (singular Nomas), name given to various pastoral peoples, as in northern Africa or Scythia, borrowed from Greek nomádes "pastoral people who move from place to place seasonally," plural of nomad-, nomás "wanderer, shepherd," as adjective, "wandering, roaming," from nomḗ "pasturing of animals, pasture, herd" or nomós "pasture, feeding ground" (both o-ablaut derivatives of némein "to graze, pasture [animals]) + -ad-, -as, noun and adjective suffix denoting descent from or connection with — more at nimble

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nomad was in 1579

Phrases Containing nomad

Rhymes for nomad

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nomad
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Cite this Entry

“Nomad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nomad. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

nomad

noun
no·​mad ˈnō-ˌmad How to pronounce nomad (audio)
1
: a member of a people that has no fixed home but wanders from place to place
2
: an individual who roams about without a goal or purpose
nomad adjective
or nomadic
nō-ˈmad-ik
nomadism
ˈnō-ˌmad-ˌiz-əm How to pronounce nomad (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on nomad

Nglish: Translation of nomad for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nomad

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