Definition

A person who is hired to walk along and check the condition of a section of railroad tracks.

Example

The trackwalker carefully examined the rails for any signs of damage.

Conversation

I saw a trackwalker on my way to work today.

Really? What do they actually do?

They inspect the railroad tracks to make sure everything is safe.

That sounds important! I never knew they had a specific job for that.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Trackwalker → It is formed from "track" (from Old English *trac*, meaning a path or course) and "walker" (from Old English *wealcan*, meaning to move or walk). The word "trackwalker" refers to a person who walks along a track, typically for inspection or maintenance purposes.

Memory Tip

Think of someone moving along a 'path' ('track') — that's what a trackwalker does.

Visually Confused Words