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Definition of hitchhiker

hitchhiker

/ˈhɪtʃˌhaɪ.kɚ/
hitch · hik · er
Plural:hitchhikers
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hitchhiker Lexical Profile

hitchhiker Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A traveler who obtains free rides in passing vehicles by standing at the side of the road and signaling to drivers.

Example

"The truck driver pulled over to pick up a stranded hitchhiker along the highway."

2

An organism, seed, or small object that is inadvertently transported from one place to another by attaching itself to a host, vehicle, or cargo.

Example

"Inspectors check incoming ships for invasive aquatic species that arrive as biological hitchhikers on the hulls."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for hitchhiker

• Nearby Words

hit
hitch
hitchhike
hitchhiker
hither
hitherto
hitless

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1920s American English from 'hitchhike', which originally referred to a method of two people sharing a horse by alternately riding and walking ('ride and tie') before shifting to traveling by soliciting free rides from passing motorists.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hitchhiker. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hitchhiker
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