stray

1 of 3

noun

ˈstrā 

1

a

: a domestic animal that is wandering at large or is lost

b

: a person or thing that strays

2

[Middle English, from straien to stray] archaic : the act of going astray

stray

2 of 3

verb

strayed; straying; strays

intransitive verb

: wander: such as

a

: to wander from company, restraint, or proper limits

a cow straying into the woods

He strayed from the group and got lost.

—often used figuratively

The menu at the restaurant never strays far from traditional dishes.

b

: to roam about without fixed direction or purpose

c

: to move in a winding course : meander

d

: to move without conscious or intentional effort

eyes straying absently around the room

e

: to become distracted from an argument or train of thought

strayed from the point

f

: to wander accidentally from a fixed or chosen route

g

: err, sin

strayer noun

stray

3 of 3

adjective

1

: having strayed or escaped from a proper or intended place

a stray dog

2

: occurring at random or sporadically

stray thoughts

3

: not serving any useful purpose : unwanted

stray light

Synonyms of stray

Verb

• trespass
• wander
• fall

Adjective

• random
• scattered
• arbitrary

Examples of stray in a Sentence

Noun

Both of her cats were strays that she found wandering in the neighborhood.

Verb

The airplane strayed off course.

our straying son swears he's returned to the straight and narrow

Adjective

stray sightings of UFO's, none of which have been rigorously analyzed by scientists

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Both cats were previously feral before being saved, and Twix was adopted as a stray. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025

At the shelter, Petersen weighed, photographed and gave tick medicine to one of the two strays, before leading it down a corridor of cages with barking dogs — many of them up for adoption and tended to by staff and volunteers. —Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Dec. 2025

Verb

Black is working with a similar goal, to provide everyday clothes for everyday dressing — an ambition the founder feels many brands have strayed too far from. —Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 5 Dec. 2025

While the docuseries strayed away from sharing an update on Combs' life as a prisoner, PEOPLE previously learned what the holidays look like for him at Fort Dix. —Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 4 Dec. 2025

Adjective

In a September 7 Instagram video posted to her account @kmagnifico, Magnifico called the number linked to a stray cat's microchip after his new owners brought him in for a vet visit. —Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025

Later, a stray discovery, courtesy of Jeff’s karaoke-centric attempt to impress Ron, leads him to realize the conspiracy touches Fisher Robay, too. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French estraié, past participle of estraier

Verb

Middle English straien, from Anglo-French estraier, from Vulgar Latin *extravagare, from Latin extra- outside + vagari to wander — more at extra-

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stray

• ay
• bay
• bey
• brae
• cay
• chez
• dey
• dray
• fay
• fey
• flay
• fray

Kids Definition

stray

1 of 3 noun

ˈstrā 

1

: a domestic animal that is wandering loose or is lost

2

: a person or thing that strays

stray

2 of 3 verb

1

: to wander from a group or from the proper place : roam

the dog strayed from the yard

2

: to wander from a fixed or chosen route or at random

accidentally strayed off the path

3

: to become distracted from an argument or chain of thought

strayed from the point

strayer noun

stray

3 of 3 adjective

1

: having strayed or been lost

a stray dog

2

: occurring in one place and another or at random

a few stray hairs