What does sojourner mean?
A sojourner is someone who remains in a place for a limited period rather than making it a permanent home. The term can apply to anyone staying temporarily, but it often has a literary or slightly old-fashioned sound and may suggest a visitor whose presence is notable or somewhat unusual. A sojourner differs from an ordinary traveller because a traveller may pass through briefly or move onward, whereas a sojourner remains in one place for a meaningful span. The word also differs from a resident, since it makes clear that the stay is temporary. It can be used figuratively for someone temporarily embedded in a new community or environment. Historically, sojourner developed from language connected with the idea of spending a day or staying for a time. Today, its principal value is that it combines the ideas of residence and impermanence in a single, dignified term.
nounA person who stays temporarily in a place, especially as a visitor rather than a permanent resident.
- A person who stays temporarily in a place, especially as a visitor rather than a permanent resident.
"The neighborhood welcomed the young sojourner with the warmth of old friends."
"During her year in Kyoto, she became a familiar sojourner in the city's traditional teahouses."
"The scholar was a sojourner in the capital, resident there only while completing his research."
The regular plural is formed by adding -s.
"The sojourners shared stories from many different countries."
A sojourner is more than a passing visitor: the word suggests someone who stays awhile, but never quite becomes a permanent resident.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sojourner come from?
The word entered English from Anglo-French and Old French forms meaning one who stays for a time. These forms ultimately derive from Medieval Latin subdiurnare, “to spend a day,” built from Latin sub- and diurnus, “of a day.” Its relatives journey, journal, and diurnal also reflect the Latin diurnus, associated with a day.
How sojourner is actually used
The word is formal and somewhat literary or old-fashioned. It emphasizes a temporary stay and does not necessarily imply that the person is travelling from abroad.
Easily confused with sojourner
A sojourner is the person who stays temporarily, whereas a sojourn is the period or visit itself.