auxiliary

adjective aux·il·ia·ry \ ȯg-ˈzil-yə-rē , -ˈzil-rē , -ˈzi-lə- \

Definition of auxiliary

1 a :offering or providing help

b :functioning in a subsidiary capacity

an auxiliary branch of the state university

2 of a verb :accompanying another verb and typically expressing person, number, mood, or tense

In "I will go," the word "will" is an auxiliary verb.

3 a :supplementary

a telescope with its auxiliary apparatus

b :constituting a reserve

an auxiliary power plant

an auxiliary police force

4 of a boat :equipped with sails and a supplementary inboard engine

an auxiliary sloop

See auxiliary defined for English-language learners

See auxiliary defined for kids

auxiliary was our Word of the Day on 09/09/2010. Hear the podcast!

Examples of auxiliary in a Sentence

Travelers have also been griping about a lack of air-conditioning while planes are on the tarmac—even after delays stretch for hours. Airlines blame the problem on a breakdown of a plane's auxiliary power unit. —Darren Everson, Wall Street Journal, 8 Aug. 2007
However, on March 1, 1896, Italian forces underwent a stunning defeat at Adwa, where they fought against the warriors of the Abyssinian emperor, Menelik. Some five thousand Italian troops and two thousand native auxiliary troops had been killed or captured, and the colony had been lost. —Mirella Tenderini et al., The Duke of the Abruzzi, 1997
The rotund 6'1", 235-pound object of their affections hasn't played a day of major league baseball, he dresses in the auxiliary locker room, and he isn't even listed on Boston's 40-man roster. But after a resplendent summer last year at Triple A Pawtucket and a winter of panegyrics from a giddy Boston press, first baseman Maurice Samuel (Mo) Vaughn, 23, has arrived as a "real" rookie who everyone in Red Sox-land hopes is the real thing. —Nicholas Dawidoff, Sports Illustrated, 1 Apr. 1991
a sailboat with an auxiliary engine
the auditorium has an auxiliary cooling system used only on particularly sweltering days

Recent Examples of auxiliary from the Web

As a consequence, the Wenatchee smelter will likely be treated as an auxiliary producer — run only when aluminum prices are high, and curtailed whenever prices fall.

— paul roberts, The Seattle Times, "Wenatchee waits and wonders about aluminum smelter’s future," 26 Aug. 2017
As one of 13 labels under the umbrella of Revolve and Alliance Apparel, a fashion design and production house based in downtown Los Angeles, LPA shares auxiliary staff — accountants, fit specialists, I.T. whizzes — with other brands.

— sheila marikar, New York Times, "How to Make an American Fashion Brand (No Sewing Required!)," 26 Aug. 2017
The Freemason organization’s 124th Imperial Council Session and its auxiliary’s 106th Imperial Court Session is in Kansas City until Friday.

— toriano porter, kansascity, "Downtown KC streets closed until 9 p.m. Wednesday for Shrine group’s annual parade," 23 Aug. 2017
The officer's partner, also an auxiliary officer, in his memo verified that statement and noted that as Vandenberg was in the intersection, several vehicles had to maneuver to avoid striking him.

— mike nolan, Daily Southtown, "'Mayor coming through': Tinley mayor moved cones for party bus after McCartney concert, records show," 11 Aug. 2017
Mechanicsville Zumba classes Hosted by the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department ladies auxiliary.

— Washington Post, "Community events in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties, July 20-27, 2017," 19 July 2017
Auxiliary Bishop Joseph R. Binzer will be the main celebrant and the Rev. Lambert Ulinzwenimana, the parochial vicar of the Winton Wyoming Pastoral Region, will be concelebrating the Mass.

— jennie key, Cincinnati.com, "Driver in crash that killed Father Coleman identified by police," 17 July 2017
But not, unfortunately, for relegating his unquestionable genius to an auxiliary plotline.

— sophie gilbert, The Atlantic, "Will Is Flagrantly Silly, Glam-Rock Shakespeare," 10 July 2017
The VFW and the ladies auxiliary in Lockport donated $500 to help cover the costs of the household items.

— alicia fabbre, Daily Southtown, "Groups help needy veterans in Will County," 5 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'auxiliary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Auxiliary can be used in a wide range of capacities in English to describe a person or thing that assists another. A fire department may bring in auxiliary units, for example, to battle a tough blaze, or a sailboat may be equipped with auxiliary engines to supply propulsion when the wind disappears. In grammar, an auxiliary verb assists another (main) verb to express person, number, mood, or tense, as have in "They have been informed." The Latin source of auxiliary is auxilium, meaning "help."

Origin and Etymology of auxiliary

Latin auxiliaris, from auxilium help; akin to Latin augēre to increase — more at eke

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

auxiliary Synonyms

Synonyms

accessorial, accessory, appurtenant, peripheral, supplemental, supplementary

Antonyms

chief, main, principal

Related Words

backup, makeshift, substitute; added, additional, another, further; complementary, contributory; adjuvant, assistant, assisting, helping, supportive, tributary; secondary, subordinate, subservient, subsidiary; dispensable, excess, nonessential, superfluous, surplus, unessential

Near Antonyms

basic, fundamental, primary, prime; all-important, essential, imperative, indispensable, integral, necessary, needed, needful, required, requisite, vital

auxiliary

noun aux·il·ia·ry \ ȯg-ˈzil-yə-rē , -ˈzil-rē , -ˈzi-lə- \

Definition of auxiliary

plural auxiliaries

1 a :an auxiliary person, group, or device; specifically :a member of a foreign force serving a nation at war

b :a Roman Catholic titular bishop assisting a diocesan bishop and not having the right of succession — called also auxiliary bishop

2 :a sailing boat or ship equipped with a supplementary inboard engine

3 grammar :an auxiliary verb

See auxiliary defined for English-language learners

Examples of auxiliary in a Sentence

In 1944 Forrestal also began a program of sending black enlisted men to serve in a limited number of fleet auxiliaries. These were still not warships, but they were seagoing vessels and closer to the fighting Navy than the small harbor-defense craft and harbor auxiliaries that had initially been open to black crews. —The Golden Thirteen, 1993
Roman cavalry was poorly developed; they relied on wings, called alae, of horsemen supplied by their auxiliaries. The favorite Roman battle formation was of a triple line of cohorts with alae sweeping the flanks. —Kenneth P. Czech, MHQ : The Quarterly Journal of Military History, Autumn 1992

Recent Examples of auxiliary from the Web

CAP, a nonprofit civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, carries out emergency-service missions, including searches and security.

— mychel matthews, idahostatesman, "These volunteers will search Idaho from the sky for eclipse trouble," 18 Aug. 2017
Part of the reason was that US Merchant Marine ships were essentially Navy auxiliaries—they were subsidized by the government because they could potentially be pressed into service in wartime to carry troops and material overseas.

— sean gallagher, Ars Technica, "Aboard the NS Savannah, America’s first (and last) nuclear merchant ship," 26 July 2017
After welcoming remarks by board co-Presidents Pat Golemi and Denise Woodward, and event Chair Mary Crumb, the honorees were named, receiving the auxiliary's signature silver bowls from EJGH Interim President and CEO Dr. Raymond DeCorte.

— sue strachan, NOLA.com, "8 honored at Great Lady/Great Gentleman luncheon," 11 June 2017
Kindervelt, the largest auxiliary of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center with over 700 volunteers, gave the check to the CHMC at the annual meeting on May 17.

— cincinnati, Cincinnati.com, "Triple Crown supports Kindervelt efforts," 19 May 2017

Origin and Etymology of auxiliary

see ¹auxiliary

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1567

See Words from the same year

AUXILIARY Defined for English Language Learners

auxiliary

adjective

Definition of auxiliary for English Language Learners

: available to provide extra help, power, etc., when it is needed

auxiliary

noun

Definition of auxiliary for English Language Learners

: a group that provides help or assistance

AUXILIARY Defined for Kids

auxiliary

adjective aux·il·ia·ry \ ȯg-ˈzi-lyə-rē , -ˈzi-lə-rē , -ˈzil-rē \

Definition of auxiliary for Students

:available to provide something extra

an auxiliary engine

auxiliary

noun

Definition of auxiliary for Students

plural auxiliaries

1 :a group that provides assistance

2 :helping verb

Medical Dictionary

auxiliary

adjective aux·il·ia·ry \ ȯg-ˈzil-yə-rē , -ˈzil-(ə-)rē \

medical Definition of auxiliary

:serving to supplement or assist

auxiliary springs in a dental appliance

auxiliary

noun

medical Definition of auxiliary

1 :one who assists or serves another person especially in dentistry

2 :an organization that assists (as by donations or volunteer services) the work especially of a hospital

Learn More about auxiliary

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for auxiliary Spanish Central: Translation of auxiliary Nglish: Translation of auxiliary for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of auxiliary for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about auxiliary

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auxiliary

Definition of auxiliary

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auxiliary was our Word of the Day on 09/09/2010. Hear the podcast!

Examples of auxiliary in a Sentence

Recent Examples of auxiliary from the Web

Did You Know?

Origin and Etymology of auxiliary

auxiliary Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

auxiliary

Definition of auxiliary

Examples of auxiliary in a Sentence

Recent Examples of auxiliary from the Web

Origin and Etymology of auxiliary

Phrases Related to AUXILIARY

Related Phrases

AUXILIARY Defined for English Language Learners

auxiliary

Definition of auxiliary for English Language Learners

auxiliary

Definition of auxiliary for English Language Learners

AUXILIARY Defined for Kids

auxiliary

Definition of auxiliary for Students

auxiliary

Definition of auxiliary for Students

Medical Dictionary

auxiliary

medical Definition of auxiliary

auxiliary

medical Definition of auxiliary

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