Vagrant vs. Vagabond — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 22, 2024
A vagrant is someone living on the streets without a fixed home or job, often seen as lawless, while a vagabond chooses a nomadic lifestyle, wandering without a permanent home by choice.
Difference Between Vagrant and Vagabond
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Vagrants are typically characterized by their lack of a fixed residence, employment, and sometimes by their run-ins with the law, reflecting societal concerns over homelessness and public order. In contrast, vagabonds often embrace a life of wandering by choice, seeking freedom from societal constraints and exploring different places without a permanent base.
The term "vagrant" carries a legal and social stigma, historically associated with being destitute and often targeted by laws meant to address homelessness and public nuisance. Vagabonds, on the other hand, are romanticized in literature and culture as free spirits who reject conventional lifestyles in favor of adventure and exploration.
While vagrants may struggle with socio-economic challenges, leading to their situation, vagabonds often choose their lifestyle for philosophical, adventurous, or personal reasons, indicating a significant difference in the underlying motivations between the two.
Society's response to vagrants is often shaped by policies aimed at reducing homelessness and providing social services, viewing them as individuals in need of assistance. Vagabonds, however, are sometimes admired or envied for their freedom and resilience, reflecting a more nuanced societal perception.
Despite these differences, both vagrants and vagabonds face challenges related to security, access to resources, and social acceptance. Their lifestyles, whether by choice or circumstance, highlight diverse ways of living outside conventional societal structures.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Someone without a fixed home or job, often viewed as lawless.
Someone who chooses a nomadic lifestyle without a home.
Societal Perception
Often seen as destitute and a public concern.
Romanticized as free spirits rejecting conventional life.
Motivation
Socio-economic challenges and lack of resources.
Desire for freedom, adventure, and exploration.
Legal Status
Subject to laws addressing homelessness and public nuisance.
Generally not targeted by specific laws.
Lifestyle
Result of circumstances beyond one’s control.
A deliberate choice for personal or philosophical reasons.
Compare with Definitions
Vagrant
Viewed under the law as someone who may engage in petty crimes for survival.
Local ordinances were passed to reduce vagrancy by providing shelter programs.
Vagabond
A person who wanders from place to place without a permanent home or job by choice.
The novelist drew inspiration from her years spent as a vagabond, traveling across continents.
Vagrant
A person without a fixed residence or regular employment, often considered a public nuisance.
The city council discussed measures to assist vagrants and address homelessness.
Vagabond
Chooses a nomadic lifestyle for the sake of adventure, personal growth, or to escape societal norms.
After retiring, they sold their home to live as vagabonds, exploring the world in their van.
Vagrant
Their status is usually a result of economic hardship, lack of support networks, or health issues.
Economic downturns see a rise in the number of vagrants due to job losses.
Vagabond
While faced with uncertainties, they embrace the unpredictability of their lifestyle.
Despite the challenges, the vagabond lifestyle offered him unparalleled freedom and joy.
Vagrant
Often marginalized and subjected to societal and legal scrutiny.
Social workers aim to help vagrants find temporary housing and employment opportunities.
Vagabond
Often romanticized as living a life of adventure and freedom.
Literature is full of vagabond characters who leave behind ordinary lives for thrilling adventures.
Vagrant
Faces challenges in accessing basic services and rights due to their lack of a fixed address.
Vagrants often struggle to access healthcare and social services, complicating efforts to improve their situation.
Vagabond
Not typically bound by the same legal or societal pressures as vagrants.
Vagabonds often fund their travels through temporary jobs or artistic endeavors, staying clear of legal troubles.
Vagrant
A person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place and lives by begging.
Vagabond
A person who moves from place to place without a permanent home and often without a regular means of support.
Vagrant
Relating to or living the life of a vagrant
Vagrant beggars
Vagabond
Of, relating to, or characteristic of a vagabond.
Vagrant
One who wanders from place to place without a permanent home or a means of livelihood.
Vagabond
To wander or travel about, especially as a vagabond.
Vagrant
(Archaic) A wanderer; a rover.
Vagabond
A person on a trip of indeterminate destination and/or length of time.
Vagrant
One who lives on the streets or constitutes a public nuisance.
Vagabond
One who usually wanders from place to place, having no fixed dwelling, or not abiding in it, and usually without the means of honest livelihood.
Vagrant
An animal occurring beyond its normal range; an accidental.
Vagabond
To roam, as a vagabond
Vagrant
Wandering from place to place and lacking any means of support.
Vagabond
Floating about without any certain direction; driven to and fro.
Vagrant
Living on the streets or constituting a public nuisance.
Vagabond
Moving from place to place without a settled habitation; wandering.
Vagrant
Inconstant or capricious; wayward
"She was resolved to win my vagrant fancy" (Frank Harris).
Vagabond
Floating about without any certain direction; driven to and fro.
To heaven their prayersFlew up, nor missed the way, by envious windsBlown vagabond or frustrate.
Vagrant
Moving in a random fashion; having no fixed direction or pattern
Vagrant ice floes.
A vagrant aroma.
Vagabond
Being a vagabond; strolling and idle or vicious.
Vagrant
Being beyond its normal range; accidental. Used of animals.
Vagabond
One who wanders from place to place, having no fixed dwelling, or not abiding in it, and usually without the means of honest livelihood; a vagrant; a tramp; hence, a worthless person; a rascal.
A fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be.
Vagrant
(dated) A person who wanders from place to place; a nomad, a wanderer.
Vagabond
To play the vagabond; to wander like a vagabond; to stroll.
On every part my vagabonding sightDid cast, and drown mine eyes in sweet delight.
Vagrant
(specifically) A person without settled employment or habitation who usually supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means; a tramp, a vagabond.
Every morning before work, I see that poor vagrant around the neighbourhood begging for food.
Vagabond
Anything that resembles a vagabond in having no fixed place;
Pirate ships were vagabonds of the sea
Vagrant
Vagrans egista, a widely distributed Asian butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.
Vagabond
A wanderer who has no established residence or visible means of support
Vagrant
An animal, typically a bird, found outside its species' usual range.
Vagabond
Move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment;
The gypsies roamed the woods
Roving vagabonds
The wandering Jew
The cattle roam across the prairie
The laborers drift from one town to the next
They rolled from town to town
Vagrant
Wandering from place to place, particularly when without any settled employment or habitation.
A vagrant beggar
Vagabond
Wandering aimlessly without ties to a place or community;
Led a vagabond life
A rootless wanderer
Vagrant
Of or pertaining to a vagabond or vagrant, or a person fond of wandering.
Vagabond
Continually changing especially as from one abode or occupation to another;
A drifting double-dealer
The floating population
Vagrant hippies of the sixties
Vagrant
(figurative) Moving without a certain direction; roving, wandering; also, erratic, unsettled.
Vagrant
Moving without certain direction; wandering; erratic; unsettled.
That beauteous Emma vagrant courses took.
While leading this vagrant and miserable life, Johnson fell in love.
Vagrant
Wandering from place to place without any settled habitation; as, a vagrant beggar.
Vagrant
One who strolls from place to place; one who has no settled habitation; an idle wanderer; a sturdy beggar; an incorrigible rogue; a vagabond.
Vagrants and outlaws shall offend thy view.
Vagrant
A wanderer who has no established residence or visible means of support
Vagrant
Continually changing especially as from one abode or occupation to another;
A drifting double-dealer
The floating population
Vagrant hippies of the sixties
Common Curiosities
What defines a vagrant?
A vagrant is defined as someone living without a fixed home or job, often due to socio-economic challenges.
Are vagrants considered criminals?
Not inherently, but vagrants can be targeted by laws addressing homelessness and public nuisance.
Can someone be both a vagrant and a vagabond?
The terms have distinct connotations, but an individual's situation can evolve from one to the other based on choices and circumstances.
How does society view vagrants?
Society often views vagrants as individuals in need of assistance due to their challenging circumstances.
What motivates a vagabond?
Vagabonds are motivated by a desire for freedom, exploration, and living outside conventional societal structures.
What challenges do vagrants face?
Vagrants face challenges related to homelessness, including access to healthcare, employment, and social services.
Why do some people romanticize the vagabond lifestyle?
The vagabond lifestyle is romanticized for its perceived freedom, adventure, and the rejection of conventional life constraints.
Do vagabonds choose their lifestyle?
Yes, vagabonds choose their nomadic lifestyle for freedom, adventure, or to escape societal norms.
How do vagabonds sustain their lifestyle?
Vagabonds may work temporary jobs, pursue creative or freelance work, or live minimally to sustain their lifestyle.
How is a vagabond different from a vagrant?
A vagabond chooses a nomadic lifestyle for adventure or personal reasons, unlike a vagrant, who is often in their situation due to circumstances beyond their control.
Is vagrancy illegal?
Some jurisdictions have laws against vagrancy, typically related to public order and safety.
How does the legal system address vagrancy?
The legal system may address vagrancy through laws focused on public order, offering support services, or penalizing behaviors deemed as nuisances.
Can vagrancy be resolved through social programs?
Social programs aimed at housing, employment, and healthcare can help address the root causes of vagrancy, but broader systemic changes are often needed.
What rights do vagrants have?
Vagrants have the same basic rights as other citizens, though accessing services can be challenging without a fixed address.
Do vagabonds contribute to society?
Vagabonds can contribute through cultural, artistic, and social insights gained from their diverse experiences.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
