stranger

1 of 3

noun

strang·​er ˈstrān-jər How to pronounce stranger (audio)
1
: one who is strange: such as
a(1)
(2)
: a resident alien
b
: one in the house of another as a guest, visitor, or intruder
c
: a person or thing that is unknown or with whom one is unacquainted
d
: one who does not belong to or is kept from the activities of a group
e
: one not privy or party to an act, contract, or title : one that interferes without right
2
: one ignorant of or unacquainted with someone or something

stranger

2 of 3

adjective

: of, relating to, or being a stranger : foreign

stranger

3 of 3

verb

strangered; strangering; strangers

Examples of stranger in a Sentence

Noun Children are taught not to talk to strangers. He is a complete stranger to me. “Excuse me. Do you know where the library is?” “I'm sorry. I'm a stranger here myself.” I'm a stranger to the area.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
His wife Kimberly, clinging to their 2-year-old daughter Riley and using a book bag as a flotation device, drifted away in the strong current before another stranger pulled them safely to shore. Ray Sanchez, CNN, 27 Oct. 2024 But the parents recognize their son has had a more solemn tangible legacy too — by helping strangers with his organ donations. Brian Brant, People.com, 27 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Among the stranger choices that Ben Cooper Inc. made was insisting nearly every vinyl jumpsuit depict an image of the character you were dressed as. Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 3 Oct. 2024 Shyamalan, characteristically, took the story in a stranger direction. David Sims, The Atlantic, 30 July 2024
Verb
She will be passed from stranger to stranger for the next two years—foster homes, shelters, juvenile detention. Alex Mar, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for stranger 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stranger.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English straunger, straungier "foreigner, alien, unfamiliar person, outsider," borrowed from Anglo-French estranger, estraunger "outsider, foreigner, unfamiliar person" (as adjective) "not related by blood, foreign" (also continental Middle French estrangier), from estrange "foreign, strange entry 1" + -er, -ier -er entry 2

Adjective

from attributive use of stranger entry 1

Verb

derivative of stranger entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1606, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stranger was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near stranger

Cite this Entry

“Stranger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stranger. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

stranger

noun
strang·​er
ˈstrān-jər
1
: one who is strange
2
a
c
: a person with whom or a thing with which one is unacquainted

Legal Definition

stranger

noun
strang·​er
: someone who is not a party or in privity with a party (as to a contract or legal action)
may be enforced against a stranger to the contract

More from Merriam-Webster on stranger

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!