nomadic

adjective

no·​mad·​ic nō-ˈma-dik How to pronounce nomadic (audio)
Synonyms of nomadic
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of nomads
a nomadic tribe
nomadic herders
2
: roaming about from place to place aimlessly, frequently, or without a fixed pattern of movement
a nomadic hobo

Synonyms of nomadic

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Examples of nomadic in a Sentence

raised in a nomadic family, she attended half a dozen different high schools
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Later, it was used to describe the sites created by nomadic groups like the Romani people. — Natalie Escobar, NPR, 25 June 2026 True to his childhood, Beiranvand’s nomadic nature took an unexpected turn in the summer of 2024. — Colin Millar, New York Times, 27 June 2026 Reinventing the aliens' origin story — as nomadic, resource-hungry scavengers — just made sense in the cynical '90s. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 4 July 2026 The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument contains caves that have been used as shelters by nomadic peoples for thousands of years. — Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for nomadic

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Greek nomadikós "of a shepherd or herdsman, pastoral," from nomad-, nomás "wanderer, shepherd, nomad" + -ikos -ic entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nomadic was circa 1818

Rhymes for nomadic

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Browse Nearby Words

nomad
nomadic
Nomadidae
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Cite this Entry

“Nomadic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nomadic. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of nomadic for Spanish Speakers

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