The Times Literary Supplement (London)
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How should you use pedestrian?
Most of us know pedestrian as a noun meaning someone who travels on foot. But the adjective sense of pedestrian as defined here is actually its original meaning. To be pedestrian was to be drab or dull, as if plodding along on foot rather than speeding on horseback or by coach. Pedestrian is often used to describe a colorless or lifeless writing style, but it can also describe politicians, public tastes, personal qualities, or possessions. In comparison with the elaborate stage shows put on by today's rock artists, for instance, most of the stage presentations of 1960s rock stars seem pedestrian.
Synonyms
Adjective
Examples of pedestrian in a Sentence
Umar Shakir, The Verge, 15 May 2024
Yet New England's 14-2 record and a defense that allowed the league's fewest points were not necessarily indicative of true dominance, as the team displayed a pattern of frequently doing just enough to win, the average margin of victory a fairly pedestrian 10.3 points.
—Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2024
Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
The reconstruction includes replacing pavement, improving drainage systems and upgrading pedestrian facilities.
—Maddie Robinson, Twin Cities, 13 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Pedestrian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedestrian. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pedestrian
1 of 2 adjective
pedestrian
2 of 2 nounAdjective
from Latin pedestr-, pedestris "going on foot," from ped-, pes "foot" — related to centipede, impede, pawn entry 1, pedal
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