Homeless vs. Vagrant — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 19, 2023

"Homeless" refers to a person without a permanent residence. "Vagrant" refers to an itinerant person without a home or regular employment who may also be involved in begging. They are both related but not interchangeable.

Difference Between Homeless and Vagrant

Table of Contents

➝ Key Differences ➝ Comparison Chart ➝ Definitions ➝ FAQs

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Key Differences

The term "homeless" is more neutral, focusing specifically on the lack of a home. It does not necessarily imply anything about the person's employment status or lifestyle. "Vagrant," conversely, is often used in a less neutral tone, implying not just a lack of home but also a lack of stable occupation and sometimes even suggesting begging or wandering behavior.

Sep 19, 2023

While "homeless" has a fairly specific and straightforward definition, the term "vagrant" can be somewhat subjective and its connotations can vary. Legally, the definition of "vagrant" has often included moral judgments or social stigmas, sometimes labeling such individuals as a public nuisance. This is in contrast to the term "homeless," which is more descriptive and less judgmental in legal terms.

Sep 19, 2023

In terms of grammatical usage, "homeless" is primarily an adjective, although it can be used as a noun when referring to the collective group of people without homes ("the homeless"). "Vagrant" is predominantly a noun but can also serve as an adjective describing a lifestyle or characteristics that fit the nomadic, unemployed definition.

Sep 19, 2023

"Homeless" primarily refers to the absence of a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. In other words, a homeless person lacks permanent housing. "Vagrant," on the other hand, goes beyond the absence of a home to include irregular employment and often an itinerant lifestyle, possibly involving begging.

Sep 19, 2023

Comparison Chart

Part of Speech

Adjective, Noun

Noun, Adjective

Sep 19, 2023

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Meaning

Without permanent residence

Nomadic, without regular job

Sep 19, 2023

Connotation

Neutral

Often less neutral

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Legal Use

Descriptive, less judgmental

Can be more judgmental

Sep 19, 2023

Grammatical Forms

Homelessness, Homelessly

Vagrancy, Vagrant

Sep 19, 2023

Definitions

Homeless

Not having a settled home.

Homeless families often face severe challenges.

Sep 19, 2023

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Vagrant

Inclined to beg or seek charity.

The vagrant was asking for spare change.

Sep 19, 2023

Homeless

Lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

Many homeless individuals sleep in shelters.

Sep 19, 2023

Vagrant

Nomadic and without regular employment.

The vagrant moved from town to town.

Sep 19, 2023

Homeless

Without a permanent domicile.

He became homeless after losing his job.

Sep 19, 2023

Vagrant

Having an unsettled or inconsistent lifestyle.

The vagrant lifestyle can be difficult and dangerous.

Sep 19, 2023

Homeless

Displaced or unsettled.

The disaster left many people homeless.

Sep 19, 2023

Vagrant

A person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place and lives by begging.

Jun 30, 2023

Homeless

(of a person) without a home, and therefore typically living on the streets

Charities for the homeless

The plight of young homeless people

Jun 30, 2023

Vagrant

Relating to or living the life of a vagrant

Vagrant beggars

Jun 30, 2023

Homeless

Having no home or haven.

Jun 30, 2023

Vagrant

One who wanders from place to place without a permanent home or a means of livelihood.

Jun 30, 2023

Homeless

People without homes considered as a group. Often used with the.

Jun 30, 2023

Vagrant

(Archaic) A wanderer; a rover.

Jun 30, 2023

Homeless

Lacking a permanent place of residence.

Whenever I pass the park, I see the homeless people sleeping on the benches.

Jun 30, 2023

Vagrant

One who lives on the streets or constitutes a public nuisance.

Jun 30, 2023

Homeless

Destitute of a home.

Jun 30, 2023

Vagrant

An animal occurring beyond its normal range; an accidental.

Jun 30, 2023

Homeless

Those people who have no permanent residence, especially those who live outdoors due to poverty; usually used in the definite phrase the homeless.

Jun 30, 2023

Vagrant

Wandering from place to place and lacking any means of support.

Jun 30, 2023

Homeless

Someone with no housing;

The homeless became a problem in the large cities

Jun 30, 2023

Vagrant

Living on the streets or constituting a public nuisance.

Jun 30, 2023

Homeless

People who are homeless;

The homeless lived on the city streets

Jun 30, 2023

Vagrant

Inconstant or capricious; wayward

"She was resolved to win my vagrant fancy" (Frank Harris).

Jun 30, 2023

Homeless

Without nationality or citizenship;

Stateless persons

Jun 30, 2023

Vagrant

Moving in a random fashion; having no fixed direction or pattern

Vagrant ice floes.

A vagrant aroma.

Jun 30, 2023

Homeless

Physically or spiritually homeless or deprived of security;

Made a living out of shepherding dispossed people from one country to another

Jun 30, 2023

Vagrant

Being beyond its normal range; accidental. Used of animals.

Jun 30, 2023

Homeless

Being without shelter.

Homeless people may resort to sleeping in public spaces.

Sep 19, 2023

Vagrant

(dated) A person who wanders from place to place; a nomad, a wanderer.

Jun 30, 2023

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.

Jun 30, 2023

Vagrant

Vagrans egista, a widely distributed Asian butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.

Jun 30, 2023

Vagrant

An animal, typically a bird, found outside its species' usual range.

Jun 30, 2023

Vagrant

Wandering from place to place, particularly when without any settled employment or habitation.

A vagrant beggar

Jun 30, 2023

Vagrant

Of or pertaining to a vagabond or vagrant, or a person fond of wandering.

Jun 30, 2023

Vagrant

(figurative) Moving without a certain direction; roving, wandering; also, erratic, unsettled.

Jun 30, 2023

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.

Jun 30, 2023

Vagrant

Wandering from place to place without any settled habitation; as, a vagrant beggar.

Jun 30, 2023

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.

Jun 30, 2023

Vagrant

A wanderer who has no established residence or visible means of support

Jun 30, 2023

Vagrant

Continually changing especially as from one abode or occupation to another;

A drifting double-dealer

The floating population

Vagrant hippies of the sixties

Jun 30, 2023

Vagrant

A person who wanders and has no home or job.

A vagrant was found sleeping under the bridge.

Sep 19, 2023

Vagrant

Someone who is considered a public nuisance.

The vagrant was arrested for loitering.

Sep 19, 2023

FAQs

Is Vagrant a noun or an adjective?

Vagrant is mainly a noun but can also serve as an adjective.

Sep 19, 2023

Can Homeless and Vagrant be used interchangeably?

They are related but not interchangeable; "vagrant" often implies more than just a lack of housing.

Sep 19, 2023

Is Homeless a noun or an adjective?

Homeless is primarily an adjective but can also be a noun when referring to a collective group.

Sep 19, 2023

Does Homeless imply unemployment?

No, being homeless does not necessarily imply unemployment.

Sep 19, 2023

Is Homeless a legally defined term?

Yes, "homeless" is legally defined, often for purposes of social services.

Sep 19, 2023

Is Vagrant a legally defined term?

Vagrant is sometimes legally defined, often in ways that include moral or social judgments.

Sep 19, 2023

What does Homeless mean?

Homeless refers to a person who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

Sep 19, 2023

What does Vagrant mean?

Vagrant refers to a nomadic individual without a permanent home or regular employment, often involved in begging.

Sep 19, 2023

What is the adjective form of Homeless?

Homeless is itself an adjective; the noun form is "homelessness."

Sep 19, 2023

Does Vagrant imply begging?

Often, the term "vagrant" can imply begging or seeking charity.

Sep 19, 2023

Can Homeless refer to families?

Yes, families can be described as homeless if they lack stable housing.

Sep 19, 2023

Is Homeless a neutral term?

Generally, yes, it's a term that describes a condition without moral or social judgments.

Sep 19, 2023

Is Vagrant a neutral term?

Less so; "vagrant" often carries social or moral judgments.

Sep 19, 2023

What is the adjective form of Vagrant?

Vagrant is itself an adjective; the noun form is "vagrancy."

Sep 19, 2023

Can Vagrant refer to families?

It's less common but possible, especially if the family leads a nomadic and unsettled lifestyle.

Sep 19, 2023

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Author Spotlight

Written by

Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.