other

1 of 5

adjective

oth·​er ˈə-t͟hər How to pronounce other (audio)
1
a
: being the one (as of two or more) remaining or not included
held on with one hand and waved with the other one
b
: being the one or ones distinct from that or those first mentioned or implied
taller than the other boys
c
: second
every other day
2
: not the same : different
any other color would have been better
something other than it seems to be
3
: additional
sold in the U.S. and 14 other countries
4
a
: recently past
the other evening
b
: former
in other times
5
: disturbingly or threateningly different : alien, exotic

other

2 of 5

noun

1
: a different or additional one
the others came later
2
a
: one that remains of two or more
b
: a thing opposite to or excluded by something else
went from one side to the other
nature as the other of culture
3
a
: one (such as another person) that is psychologically differentiated from the self
b
often capitalized : one considered by members of a dominant group as alien, exotic, threatening, or inferior (as because of different racial, sexual, or cultural characteristics)

other

3 of 5

pronoun

sometimes plural in construction
1
: a different or additional one
something or other
2
obsolete
a
: one of two that remains
b
: each preceding one

other

4 of 5

adverb

: otherwise
used with than
was unable to see them other than by going to their home

other

5 of 5

verb

othered; othering

transitive verb

: to treat or consider (a person or a group of people) as alien to oneself or one's group (as because of different racial, sexual, or cultural characteristics)
… we trace how in small rural communities these processes of othering the poor are racializedVictoria Lawson et al.
You go in and don't have to go some dark, scary corner for the plus-size section. It can make you feel like you're not being othered and dehumanized.Amanda Levitt
othering
ˈə-t͟hə-riŋ How to pronounce other (audio)
ˈət͟h-
noun
I am a black writer struggling with and through a language that can powerfully evoke and enforce hidden signs of racial superiority, cultural hegemony, and dismissive "othering" of people … Toni Morrison

Did you know?

Is other a verb?

Like many English words, other possesses great flexibility in meaning and function. Over the past few centuries, it has served as an adjective, an adverb, a noun, and a pronoun. In recent decades, other has increased its part-of-speech portfolio to include verb use, having acquired the meaning "to treat or consider (a person or a group of people) as alien to oneself or one's group (as because of different racial, sexual, or cultural characteristics).” Some people find it disconcerting when a word takes on a new part of speech, a process known as functional shift. The phenomenon is quite common, however -- our language contains many thousands of words which have been formed in this fashion.

Examples of other in a Sentence

Adjective These and other issues will be discussed at the next meeting. The driver's wife and two other passengers were injured in the accident. Leaders from China, Russia, and 14 other countries attended the conference.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
To reply to other posts, simply include ‘re:’ or ‘to’ the topic in the subject line of your post. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 Until now, the case — and the multiple letters of support for Peck, written by other actors — was sealed and Bell’s identity was secret. Emily Longeretta, Variety, 17 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for other 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'other.' 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

Adjective, Noun, Pronoun, and Adverb

Middle English, from Old English ōther; akin to Old High German andar other, Sanskrit antara

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1985, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of other was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near other

Cite this Entry

“Other.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/other. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

other

1 of 4 adjective
oth·​er ˈət͟h-ər How to pronounce other (audio)
1
: not being the one or ones first mentioned or included
broke my other arm
2
: having one come before that is not included or counted : second
every other day
3
: not the same : different
any other color would be better
4
: additional
some other guests are coming
5
: recently past
the other evening

other

2 of 4 noun
1
: a remaining one
lift one foot and then the other
2
: a different or additional one
the others came later

other

3 of 4 pronoun
: a different or additional one
something or other

other

4 of 4 adverb
: otherwise sense 1
could not get there other than by helicopter

More from Merriam-Webster on other

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