passager

Passager is a French noun and adjective. As a noun, passager designates a person who is carried in a vehicle or vessel but who is not part of the crew or operator. This includes travelers on trains, buses, ships, and airplanes. The feminine form is passagère, and the plural forms are passagers (masculine) and passagères (feminine).

Etymology and forms: The word derives from the verb passer (to pass) and from the noun passage, with the agent suffix -ier, yielding “one who passes” or “one who travels.” The term emphasizes movement and transit within transport contexts.

Usage in transport and policy: In standard transport language, passager refers to a person riding in a vehicle rather than working on it. It is used to distinguish riders from crew or staff. Common expressions include passager clandestin (stowaway). In many jurisdictions, passengers have rights and duties under transport policies and fare structures, although the specifics vary by country and mode of transport.

As an adjective: Passager can also function as an adjective meaning temporary or fleeting, with feminine passagère and plural passagers/passagères when agreeing with a noun. Examples include un effet passager (a temporary effect) or un problème passager (a short-lived problem).

See also: voyageur, transport, droit du transport, billet, tarif.