Peripatetic vs Itinerant: What’s the Difference?
The difference at a glance
Peripatetic describes a lifestyle or movement pattern that is essentially nomadic or wandering. Itinerant specifically links this travel to moving from place to place for the purpose of work.
Example sentences are illustrative learning examples, not verified quotations.
What does Peripatetic mean?
adjective · /ˌpɛrɪpəˈtɛtɪk/
Travelling from place to place, especially while working; itinerant; in philosophy, relating to Aristotle's school of philosophy, derived from his habit of walking while teaching.
Explore PeripateticPeripatetic in a sentence
Her peripatetic career had taken her to four continents by the time she was forty.
He was a peripatetic consultant, working for three days in each city before moving to the next.
What does Itinerant mean?
adjective / noun · /aɪˈtɪn.ər.ənt/
Travelling from place to place — often for work, often without a fixed base. An itinerant life is a mobile one: always arriving, never fully settled, each place temporary by nature.
Explore ItinerantItinerant in a sentence
He lived an itinerant life — three months in each city, possessions that fit in one bag.
The itinerant labour force moved with the crops, never settling long enough to become local.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Peripatetic and Itinerant?
Peripatetic describes a lifestyle or movement pattern that is essentially nomadic or wandering. Itinerant specifically links this travel to moving from place to place for the purpose of work.
What does Peripatetic mean?
Travelling from place to place, especially while working; itinerant; in philosophy, relating to Aristotle's school of philosophy, derived from his habit of walking while teaching.
What does Itinerant mean?
Travelling from place to place — often for work, often without a fixed base. An itinerant life is a mobile one: always arriving, never fully settled, each place temporary by nature.