What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
transient
Example
The hotel is popular among transients who need a place to stay for a few nights. [transients: noun]
Example
The beauty of the sunset is transient and will soon fade away. [transient: adjective]
itinerant
Example
The itinerant salesman visited our office last week. [itinerant: adjective]
Example
She works as an itinerant musician, traveling from city to city for performances. [itinerant: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Transient is more commonly used than itinerant in everyday language. Transient is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while itinerant is less common and is typically used to describe specific jobs or professions.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between transient and itinerant?
Both transient and itinerant are relatively formal words, but transient is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
