Visitor Means Someone Who Goes to See
A visitor is someone who calls on a person or place. The Latin root means to go and see, and English law attaches duties to the word.
A visitor is someone who goes to see a person or place. The Latin *visitare* means to go to see, a frequentative of *videre*, to see. The word carries legal weight: occupiers' liability law imposes a duty of care towards visitors, and distinguishes them from trespassers, who are owed less.
- Someone who visits. *Visitors to the museum.*
- A tourist. *Summer visitors.*
- A migratory bird. *A winter visitor.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | visitor | An unexpected visitor. |
| Plural | visitors | Overseas visitors. |
| Verb | visit | Visit the site. |
| Noun | visit | A short visit. |
| Compound | visitor centre | The visitor centre. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Visitors must report to reception.Signage.
- The waxwing is a winter visitor.Ornithology.
- Occupiers owe a duty of care to visitors.English law.
Kinds of visitor
- Guest — invited, usually to a home or hotel
- Visitor — anyone who comes, invited or not
- Trespasser — present without permission
- Health visitor — a British nurse supporting families with young children
- Day visitor — someone not staying overnight
From Latin *visitare*, to go to see, from *visere*, to look at, from *videre*, to see. The word entered English through Anglo-French.
Visitor or guest?
A guest is invited and usually entertained. A visitor may simply arrive, and the word is neutral about welcome.
What is a health visitor?
In Britain, a qualified nurse or midwife with extra training who supports families with children under five, usually at home.