Search Dictionary
Definition of trainspotting

trainspotting

/ˈtreɪnˌspɑː.tɪŋ/
train · spot · ting
JUMP TO:

trainspotting Lexical Profile

trainspotting Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

British The hobby of watching railway trains and recording the serial numbers of locomotives.

Example

"He spent his Saturday afternoons on the station platform with a notebook and binoculars, absorbed in trainspotting."

2

British An obsessive or overly detailed interest in a trivial, niche, or unglamorous subject.

Example

"Critics dismissed the music magazine's exhaustive discography lists as mere journalistic trainspotting."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for trainspotting

• Nearby Words

trainer
training
trainload
trainspotting
trainwreck
traipse
trait

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in mid-20th-century Britain from 'train' and 'spotting', modeled on wartime 'plane-spotting' in which observers identified aircraft types.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Trainspotting. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/trainspotting
Built for writers, students, and competitive word game players, Wordmom combines an uncluttered English dictionary and thesaurus with fast, pattern-based word finders so you can verify definitions, synonyms, and high-scoring tile plays in one place.
Word Games & Solvers
Word FinderScrabble Word FinderWords With Friends CheatWordle SolverAnagram Solver
Dictionary & Reference
DictionarySynonymsAntonymsWords
Community
Contact UsEditorial PolicyPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
© 2016–2026 Wordmom Network. All rights reserved. Made with for word lovers everywhere.
Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.