noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
wandering; roaming; loitering; prowling
Often used for aimless walking, especially in contexts like dementia-related wandering or suspicious loitering. Can be a noun or a suru-verb.
夜中に駅前を徘徊している人がいた。
There was someone wandering around in front of the station late at night.
認知症の高齢者が徘徊して行方不明になるケースが増えている。
Cases of elderly people with dementia wandering off and going missing are increasing.