pedestrian: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Formal to Neutral (for literal meaning); Formal/Stylistic (for figurative meaning).
Quick answer
What does “pedestrian” mean?
A person who is walking, especially in an urban area where motor vehicles are present.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who is walking, especially in an urban area where motor vehicles are present.
Lacking inspiration or excitement; dull, commonplace, or unimaginative.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal for the literal sense. In law and official signage, UK favours 'pedestrian' (Pedestrian Crossing, Zebra Crossing), while US uses 'pedestrian' and 'crosswalk'.
Connotations
Identical for the literal sense. The figurative sense is slightly more common in literary or academic critique in both varieties.
Frequency
The literal sense is high frequency in both varieties due to road safety contexts. The figurative sense is less common but well-established.
Grammar
How to Use “pedestrian” in a Sentence
Pedestrian + [Preposition] + location (e.g., pedestrian in the street)[Adjective] + pedestrian (e.g., careless pedestrian)[Verb] + pedestrian (e.g., hit a pedestrian)Be/Become + pedestrian (figurative: e.g., The plot became pedestrian).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pedestrian” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The architectural design was dismissed as rather pedestrian.
- He gave a pedestrian account of his extraordinary adventures.
American English
- The film's soundtrack was disappointingly pedestrian.
- After the brilliant opening, the debate became pedestrian.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in urban planning, retail (footfall analysis), or real estate (pedestrian access).
Academic
Common in urban studies, transport engineering, and literary/art criticism (figurative sense).
Everyday
Very common in contexts of travel, directions, and road safety.
Technical
Used in traffic engineering, urban design, and legal statutes concerning rights of way.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pedestrian”
- Using 'pedestrian' to mean 'tourist' or 'passerby' exclusively. Confusing 'pedestrian' (adj.) with 'plain' or 'simple' without the connotation of being boringly ordinary.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'pedestrian' is not used as a standard verb in modern English. The related verb is 'to walk' or 'to go on foot.'
A 'pedestrian' typically walks in urban or inhabited areas, often alongside roads. A 'hiker' walks in rural or natural settings, often for recreation on trails.
Yes, when describing something (like an idea, performance, or design) as 'pedestrian,' it is a criticism meaning it is dull, uninspired, or lacking in originality.
It is a British term for an area, usually in a town or city centre, where vehicles are prohibited or heavily restricted, giving priority to people on foot.
A person who is walking, especially in an urban area where motor vehicles are present.
Pedestrian is usually formal to neutral (for literal meaning); formal/stylistic (for figurative meaning). in register.
Pedestrian: in British English it is pronounced /pəˈdestriən/, and in American English it is pronounced /pəˈdestriən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pedestrian at best (used to damn with faint praise)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of PED- (foot, as in pedal) + -ESTRIAN (like equestrian, but for walking). A pedestrian uses their feet.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNIMAGINATIVE IS WALKING (vs. FLYING/SOARING); ORDINARY IS EARTHBOUND.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'pedestrian' used in its figurative sense?