Synonyms

fellow traveler

American

noun

a person who supports or sympathizes with a political party, especially the Communist Party, but is not an enrolled member.
anyone who, although not a member, supports or sympathizes with some organization, movement, or the like.

fellow traveler Cultural

One who supports the aims or philosophies of a political group without joining it. A “fellow traveler” is usually one who sympathizes with communist doctrines but is not a member of the Communist party. The term was used disparagingly in the 1950s to describe people accused of being communists.

Other Word Forms

fellow-traveling adjective

Etymology

Origin of fellow traveler

1605–15, for literal sense

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Not having known much about the Camino before booking her trip, she sometimes bridles when fellow travelers share their knowledge along the route.

From The Wall Street Journal

Nashville assumes a conservative audience, and that audience assumes they’re hearing from a fellow traveler.

From Salon

And when we reach a dense forest of trees, so tall they seem to reach the sky, a few of our fellow travelers balk.

From Literature

You will reach your destination feeling more kindly to your fellow travelers, which can only improve any trip.

From Los Angeles Times

This last comment came from a fellow traveler, ruefully disclosing an act of self-defense many years ago.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023