Rider

Rider is a noun with several related meanings in English. In its most general sense, a rider is a person who rides: someone who travels on horseback, a bicycle, a motorcycle, or any other vehicle. The term can also refer to a passenger who rides with another person, or to an athlete such as a jockey who rides a horse in races. In some contexts, a rider describes someone who accompanies or follows along with someone else’s journey or activity.

Originating from the verb ride, Old English ridan, rider is the agent noun formed with the suffix -er. The figurative sense of something that “rides along” with something else arises in later usage, producing a broader set of meanings.

In law and governance, a rider is an additional provision attached to a bill, ordinance, or contract. Such riders are often used to attach unrelated but expedient terms to legislation, influencing outcomes without altering the main subject text. The term also appears in insurance and finance as an endorsement or rider that expands or restricts coverage or terms.

Rider thus covers both a person who rides and a set of supplementary provisions embedded in legal or policy documents. The exact meaning depends on context, discipline, and jurisdiction.