Backpacker

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An individual who explores different places while carrying all of their essentials in a backpack, usually prioritizing low-cost travel experiences
2. A traveler who embarks on journeys with limited gear in a backpack, often seeking affordable accommodations and adventures along the way
3. A person who journeys to various destinations while carrying necessary items in a backpack, often emphasizing budget-friendly travel and experiences

Etymology: The word is a plain compound: "backpack" plus the agent suffix "-er," so a backpacker is one who travels with a backpack. The "back" half comes from Old English "bæc," the body part, and the "pack" half descends from a Middle Dutch word for a bundle, which entered English as "pak" and later "pack." Together they formed a compound that describes the gear as much as the traveller. The suffix "-er" has a long pedigree of its own. It traces back through Old English and Old French to the Latin "-arius," which marked a person connected with a thing, so the English ending carries the same idea as a baker or a writer. Attaching it to a pack-carrying traveller produced a label that is transparent in every part.

Synonyms: traveler, hiker, wanderer, tourist