A hitchhiker is someone who travels by asking people for a ride.
When you hear about a hitchhiker on the side of the road with a thumb up, they're probably trying to get to their destination without using public transportation or driving themselves. You might see a young traveler with a backpack and a sign that says where they're going - that's usually a hitchhiker. Some people might think it's adventurous to hitchhike, while others might find it too unpredictable. Hitchhiking isn't as common now as it was in the past when roads were less crowded and fewer people had cars.
A person or thing that hitchhikes.
