What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
vagrant
Example
The city has a problem with vagrants sleeping in public parks. [vagrants: noun]
Example
He became a vagrant after losing his job and home. [vagrant: adjective]
nomadic
Example
The nomadic tribe traveled across the desert in search of water and grazing land. [nomadic: adjective]
Example
Her family has a long history of living a nomadic lifestyle, following the herds of animals for survival. [nomadic: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Vagrant is more commonly used in everyday language than nomadic. Vagrant is often used in news reports and discussions of homelessness and poverty, while nomadic is more commonly used in discussions of cultural identity and travel.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between vagrant and nomadic?
Both vagrant and nomadic are informal words, but vagrant is often used in more formal contexts such as legal documents and government reports related to homelessness and poverty.
