itinerancy

/ī-ˈti-nə-rən(t)-sē/ (ame, mw)

itinerancy — noun

1. the activity of moving from place to place again and again, often because your w

1.名詞C2
釋義

the activity of moving from place to place again and again, often because your work or service takes you to many locations

例句

For years, Arjun's sales job involved constant itinerancy across three states.

collocation: constant itinerancy

The band's early itinerancy helped them build fans in small towns.

同義詞
  • wandering

    less formal and often less organized than itinerancy

  • travel

    much broader; it can refer to any trip, not repeated movement as a pattern

  • roving

    suggests moving around freely, often without the work-based sense of itinerancy

反義詞
  • settlement

    staying in one place instead of moving around regularly

用法筆記

Often used in historical or social writing about jobs, trade, or ministry that require regular movement. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense emphasizes the repeated travel itself, not a person's overall living condition.

常見錯誤

❌Itinerancy just means one long holiday trip.
✅Itinerancy describes a repeated pattern of moving from place to place, often for work or service.
💡it refers to ongoing movement, not a single journey.

2. a way of life in which someone has no fixed base and keeps living or working in

2.名詞C2
釋義

a way of life in which someone has no fixed base and keeps living or working in new places

例句

After the eviction, Hao's family fell into itinerancy for nearly two years.

fall into itinerancy

The novel follows a child shaped by the itinerancy of circus life.

同義詞
  • nomadism

    stronger and more cultural; it can describe an established social way of life

  • transience

    focuses on short stays and lack of permanence, not necessarily repeated travel

  • wandering life

    less formal and often more emotional in tone

反義詞

用法筆記

Usually describes a continuing condition or lifestyle, often with social or economic effects such as unstable housing or schooling. Distinguish from sense 1: here the focus is on living without a settled base, not simply making repeated journeys.

常見錯誤

❌Her itinerancy lasted one afternoon.
✅Her itinerancy lasted several unstable years.
💡this sense describes an ongoing condition, not a short outing.

3. a church arrangement in which ministers are moved from one congregation or town

3.名詞C2
釋義

a church arrangement in which ministers are moved from one congregation or town to another instead of remaining in one post for many years

例句

Under Methodist itinerancy, Christopher served a different town every few years.

Methodist itinerancy

Church elders defended itinerancy as a way to share strong preachers.

同義詞
  • circuit system

    close in church contexts; it emphasizes the linked posts rather than the rotation principle itself

  • rotation

    more general; it can describe staff changes in many settings, not specifically church appointments

反義詞

用法筆記

Used mainly in Methodist history and church administration. It names an organized appointment system rather than a minister's personal liking for travel.

常見錯誤

❌Methodist itinerancy means ministers choose any church they like.
✅Methodist itinerancy means the church reassigns ministers from one post to another.
💡the movement is organized by the church, not chosen freely by each minister.