Vagabonds: meaning, definitions and examples

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vagabonds

[ˈvæɡəˌbɒndz ]

Definition

^{Context #1 | Noun}

group of

Vagabonds are people who wander from place to place without a home or job. They often live a nomadic lifestyle, moving from one location to another in search of work, food, or shelter.

Synonyms

drifters, hobos, tramps.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
vagabonds	Used to describe people who wander without a fixed home, often implying a romantic or adventurous lifestyle. The story is about a group of vagabonds journeying across the country. In his younger days, he was a vagabond, exploring new places every week.
tramps	Describes people who live a nomadic lifestyle, often seen walking from place to place. It can have a negative connotation, implying a sense of aimlessness or disrepute. The old tramp was seen wandering through the streets every evening. She took pity on the tramps and offered them food and shelter.
hobos	Typically used in the context of the Great Depression in the U.S. to describe individuals who traveled in search of work, often by hopping trains. It can carry a nostalgic or historical significance. During the Great Depression, many men became hobos to find work. He wrote a novel about the hobo culture of the 1930s.
drifters	Refers to people who move from place to place, often without any clear purpose or direction. The town became a haven for drifters who had no particular destination. He lived the life of a drifter, never staying in one place for too long.

Examples of usage

They were a group of vagabonds who traveled together, never staying in one place for too long.
The city streets were filled with vagabonds, each with their own story of how they ended up living on the road.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The term 'vagabond' comes from the Latin word 'vagabundus', which means wandering.
In Old French, it was 'vagabond', highlighting the wandering lifestyle.
The word has been used in English since the 14th century, often with a negative connotation.

Literature

Many classic novels feature vagabonds, symbolizing freedom and a break from societal norms, such as in Mark Twain's 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'.
Poets like Walt Whitman celebrated the vagabond spirit in their works, reflecting the quest for identity and self-discovery.
The figure of the vagabond often represents the contrast between a constrained life and the liberating power of travel.

Cultural Significance

In various cultures, vagabonds are sometimes seen as outsiders or free spirits, challenging societal expectations.
Counter-cultures, like the Beat Generation in the 1950s, embraced the idea of living freely, as represented by vagabonds.
Traveling vagabonds can be seen as part of the Romani people's lifestyle, who often reject settled living for movement and adaptability.

Psychology

The lifestyle of vagabonds can lead to feelings of freedom but also loneliness and disconnection from roots.
Studies suggest that people who frequently change locations might develop a more open mindset but could struggle with stability.
Vagabonding often reflects a desire for adventure, which can create both excitement and anxiety about the unknown.

Pop Culture

Vagabonds are often romanticized in movies and songs, portraying them as adventurous characters searching for personal truths.
The song 'Vagabond' by Wolfmother captures the spirit of wandering and seeking one's identity.
In modern media, vagabonds may represent the struggle against urbanization and the longing for a simpler life.

Translations

Translations of the word "vagabonds" in other languages:

🇵🇹 vagabundos

🇮🇳 आवारा

🇩🇪 Landstreicher

🇮🇩 gelandangan

🇺🇦 бродяги

🇵🇱 włóczędzy

🇯🇵 放浪者 (ほうろうしゃ)

🇫🇷 vagabonds

🇪🇸 vagabundos

🇹🇷 serseriler

🇰🇷 방랑자 (banglangja)

🇸🇦 المتشردون (almutashardun)

🇨🇿 tuláci

🇸🇰 tuláci

🇨🇳 流浪者 (liúlàng zhě)

🇸🇮 potepuhi

🇮🇸 flakkarar

🇰🇿 кезбелер (kezbeler)

🇬🇪 მაწანწალა (matsants'ala)

🇦🇿 avara

🇲🇽 vagabundos

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,483, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

...
24480 undetectable
24481 sweetie
24482 amulet
24483 vagabonds
24484 tympanum
24485 impressionable
24486 nomad
...