pedestrian
pronunciation
How to pronounce pedestrian in British English:
UK [pəˈdestriən]
How to pronounce pedestrian in American English:
US [pəˈdestriən]
-
- Noun:
- a person who travels by foot
-
- Adjective:
- lacking wit or imagination
Word Origin
- pedestrian (adj.)
- 1716, "prosaic, dull" (of writing), from Latin pedester (genitive pedestris) "plain, not versified, prosaic," literally "on foot" (sense contrasted with equester "on horseback"), from pedes "one who goes on foot," from pes (genitive pedis) "foot," from PIE root *ped- (1) "a foot" (see foot (n.)). Meaning "going on foot" is first attested 1791 in English (it also was a sense of Latin pedester). The earlier adjective in English was pedestrial (1610s).
- pedestrian (n.)
- "walker," 1793, from pedestrian (adj.).
Example
- 1. Willisch says bmw is also working on more sophisticated pedestrian detection for its vehicles .
- 2. Such a car would also spot a pedestrian stepping into the road and brake .
- 3. We humans follow base and pedestrian needs .
- 4. Like every other self-respecting new yorker hively is a tireless and determined pedestrian .
- 5. All this might seem a little pedestrian for one of the winners of the crisis .