Word of the Day ·
nomadic
adjective
What it means
- Of or relating to nomads.
- anthropologyOf or related to itinerant herdsmen.
For centuries, the nomadic tribes of Central Asia used colorful textiles called suzanis as seating, prayer mats, bedding and dividers in their yurts – the traditional tents that were their homes.
2024 December 19, Amy Gunia, “Young Uzbeks are finding new markets for traditional handicrafts online”, in CNN BusinessSynonyms: pastoral
- figurativelyOf or related to any habitually wandering person or animal.
Neither vehicle has a set home base. Young explains: "They are 'nomadic' nationally employed assets that, rather than having a regular home depot, are generally deployed and maintained following a programme of works across the full network.
2022 September 7, Tom Allett, “At the cutting edge of NR's track work”, in RAIL, number 965, page 401 more example
Many of these classic methods are still used, with some modern improvements. For example, with the aid of special microphones and automated sound detection software, ornithologists recently reported […] that pine siskins (Spinus pinus) undergo an irregular, nomadic type of nocturnal migration.
2013 January 1, Paul Bartel, Ashli Moore, “Avian Migration: The Ultimate Red-Eye Flight”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 1, archived from the original on 05 Mar 2016, pages 47–48Synonyms: nomad, wandering, peripatetic, itinerant, itinerate, unsettled, vagabond, roving
In a sentence
For centuries, the nomadic tribes of Central Asia used colorful textiles called suzanis as seating, prayer mats, bedding and dividers in their yurts – the traditional tents that were their homes.
2024 December 19, Amy Gunia, “Young Uzbeks are finding new markets for traditional handicrafts online”, in CNN Business
Where it comes from
- Ancient Greekνομαδικός
- Englishnomadic
From Ancient Greek νομαδικός (nomadikós), equivalent to nomad (“a member of a society or class of herdsmen”) + -ic (forming adjectives).
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