What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
gypsy
Example
The gypsy family traveled from town to town, selling their wares. [gypsy: noun]
Example
She had a gypsy soul and loved to travel to new places. [gypsy: adjective]
nomad
Example
The nomads traveled with their herds across the vast plains. [nomads: noun]
Example
He lived a nomadic life, traveling from country to country for work. [nomadic: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Nomad is more commonly used than gypsy in modern language due to its broader meaning and lack of negative connotations. Gypsy is less commonly used and can be considered offensive or insensitive in certain contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between gypsy and nomad?
Neither gypsy nor nomad is particularly formal or informal, but gypsy may be considered more colloquial or slang due to its association with stereotypes and discrimination against the ethnic group.