adjunct

play

noun ad·junct \ ˈa-ˌjəŋ(k)t \

Updated on: 9 Aug 2017

Definition of adjunct

1 :something joined or added to another thing but not essentially a part of it

The website is designed as an adjunct to the book.

2 grammar

a :a word or word group that qualifies or completes the meaning of another word or other words and is not itself a main structural element in its sentence

b :an adverb or adverbial phrase (such as heartily in "They ate heartily" or at noon in "We left at noon") attached to the verb of a clause especially to express a relation of time, place, frequency, degree, or manner — compare disjunct 2

3 a :an associate or assistant of another

b :an adjunct faculty member at a college or university (see ²adjunct 2)

4 :adjuvant b

—

adjunctive

play \a-ˈjəŋ(k)-tiv, ə-\ adjective

See adjunct defined for English-language learners

See adjunct defined for kids

Examples of adjunct in a Sentence

Because Joseph Ellis has been an outspoken critic of social and women's history, he appears a peculiar choice to write the foreword, despite his many publications on the Revolutionary era. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, he treats Abigail here more as her husband's adjunct and supporter than as her own woman. —Anthony Lewis, New York Times Book Review, 4 Nov. 2007
As an adjunct to its basic educational role, the public library will increasingly serve as an access point to the resources of other libraries as well as to nonlibrary sources of publicly available information. —Fred Lerner, The Story of Libraries, (1945) 1998
In A.D. 400 western Europe was merely a geographic expression. Roman civilization was centered on the Mediterranean, and France, England, and the Rhine valley were mere adjuncts of the Mediterranean world. —Norman F. Cantor, The Civilization of the Middle Ages, 1993
Massage therapy can be used as an adjunct along with the medication.
In “They ate heartily,” the word heartily is an adjunct and in “We left at noon,” the phrase at noon is an adjunct.

Recent Examples of adjunct from the Web

Antifa becomes merely a radical adjunct to traditional Democratic-party politics; the alt-right becomes merely a useful tool for scurrilous Republican politicians and media figures.

— ben shapiro, National Review, "Antifa and the Alt-Right, Growing in Opposition to One Another," 15 Aug. 2017
The Home Run Derby is what the NFL has forever failed to find as an adjunct to its awful Pro Bowl.

— greg cote, miamiherald, "Home Run Derby, not All-Star Game, is real star of baseball’s midsummer break," 9 July 2017
That a company like Sony is doubling down on streaming significant segments of its legacy content — adjunct to its flagship PlayStation 4 as well as Windows PCs — speaks well of the technology's prospects.

— matt peckham, Time, "You Can Play PS4 Games on PC Now. Here's Everything Sony Told Us," 6 July 2017
The malt bill gets heavy doses of adjuncts, especially oats and wheat, which soften the texture even more.

— josh noel, chicagotribune.com, "How I learned to stop worrying and love hazy IPA — some hazy IPA," 5 July 2017
Fog lamps are intended to provide an adjunct to the low beams.

— james g. cobb, New York Times, "Why Fog Lamps Are Starting to Disappear," 29 June 2017
Pinterest It was announced Friday that Lisa Durden, a former adjunct professor at Essex County College in New Jersey, would be let go from her job following a heated argument on the June 6 episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight.

— stephanie petit, PEOPLE.com, "College Professor Fired Following Appearance on Fox News Where She Defended a Black Lives Matter Party," 25 June 2017
His sleuthing is an adjunct to his primary and less dramatic job—helping buyers who have been swindled, conned, or overcharged for art.

— nina siegal, Bloomberg.com, "Cracking the Biggest Art Heist in History," 20 June 2017
That could include more than 675 part- and full-time adjuncts and faculty members from seven schools and colleges at Northwestern.

— ally marotti, chicagotribune.com, "Months after vote, Northwestern faculty members unionize," 30 May 2017

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

Breaking Down adjunct

With its prefix, ad-, meaning "to or toward", adjunct implies that one thing is "joined to" another. A car wash may be operated as an adjunct to a gas station. An adjunct professor is one who's attached to the college without being a full member of the salaried faculty. And anyone trying to expand his or her vocabulary will find that daily reading of a newspaper is a worthwhile adjunct to actual vocabulary study.

Origin and Etymology of adjunct

Latin adjunctum, from neuter of adjunctus, past participle of adjungere to add, join

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1554

See Words from the same year

adjunct Synonyms

Synonyms

helper, adjutant, aid, aide, apprentice, assistant, coadjutor, deputy, helpmate, helpmeet, lieutenant, mate, sidekick

Related Words

attendant, handmaiden (also handmaid), maid, maidservant, scullion, servant; auxiliary, legman, subordinate, underling; employee (also employe), hand, help, hireling, laborer, swamper, worker; gal Friday, girl Friday; man Friday, right hand; aide-de-camp

Near Antonyms

essential, necessity, requirement, requisite

adjunct

play

adjective ad·junct \ ˈa-ˌjəŋ(k)t \

Definition of adjunct

1 :added or joined as an accompanying object or circumstance

2 :attached in a subordinate or temporary capacity to a staff

an adjunct professor

—

adjunctly

play \ˈa-ˌjəŋ(k)-tlē, -ˌjəŋk-lē\ adverb

See adjunct defined for English-language learners

Examples of adjunct in a Sentence

But it's Sainte-Marie's less-well-known life as a computer geek—and an adjunct professor of digital art, Native American studies, and philosophy at several universities—that brings her to midtown Manhattan today. —Ophira Edut, Ms., August/September 1999
There is a terrible shortage of jobs in the universities, where, increasingly, men and women with Ph.D.s hang on to various forms of underpaid adjunct posts. Believe me, it happens at Harvard, too. —Martin Peretz, New Republic, 5 July 1999
Using his chauffeur-driven car as an adjunct office, the designer shuttles among the design ateliers of his three major collections: the one that bears his name; Chanel, and, after a seven-year hiatus, Chloé. —Carrie Donovan, New York Times Magazine, 11 Oct. 1992
massage therapy as an adjunct treatment

Recent Examples of adjunct from the Web

Rev. Lee, who served as a pastoral intern at Edenton Street United Methodist Church in Raleigh, is an adjunct professor at Appalachian State University and is pastor at a United Church of Christ in Winston-Salem, the Tribune reported.

— jennifer brett, ajc, "Rev. Robert Lee IV, Gen. Robert E. Lee’s descendant, spoke at VMAs," 28 Aug. 2017
Comey was previously an adjunct professor at the University of Richmond Law School and a Hertog Fellow in National Security Law at Columbia University Law School.

— christina coleman, Essence.com, "Former FBI Director James Comey Will Deliver Howard University's Opening Convocation Keynote Speech," 23 Aug. 2017
Along with serving on several charitable board, Town has also taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the political science department.

— jonece starr dunigan, AL.com, "Huntsville prosecutor sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama," 12 Aug. 2017
Pull Off a Leg or Two’ — Margot Cleveland is an attorney, an adjunct professor at the University of Notre Dame, and a regular contributor to the Federalist.

— margot cleveland, National Review, "Artificial Wombs Reveal an Ugly Truth about the Abortion-Rights Movement," 31 July 2017
Irwin traveled to Washington with K-State adjunct professor Jess Kerr and student Nate Faflick, later teaming up with other demonstrators from Maine for the protest.

— jessica campisi, kansascity, "K-State professors, student join health care protests outside Kansas senators’ offices," 19 July 2017
Timothy David Ray, political consultant and adjunct professor at the University of New Orleans, made good on his promise Thursday to run for the council's District B seat.

— richard rainey, NOLA.com, "Veteran campaigner, flashy suited artist among New Orleans' latest hopefuls," 13 July 2017
Diane Francis is an editor at large for National Post, senior fellow for the Atlantic Council, and adjunct faculty at Singularity University.

— diane francis, Fortune, "Why Canada Is Finally Getting the Love It Deserves From America," 2 July 2017
My guess is that Cathy Dettwyler, the University of Delaware adjunct professor, has either not suffered such profound loss, has become too jaundiced and has lost compassion, or simply has no emotional intelligence.

— byron mccauley, Cincinnati.com, "Social media reaction to Otto Warmbier death unfortunate," 27 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of adjunct

see ¹adjunct

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1516

See Words from the same year

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis

ADJUNCT Defined for English Language Learners

adjunct

play

noun

Definition of adjunct for English Language Learners

: something that is joined or added to another thing but is not an essential part of it
grammar : a word or phrase (such as an adverb or prepositional phrase) that provides added information about the meaning of a verb in a sentence by expressing a relation of time, place, manner, etc.

adjunct

play

adjective

Definition of adjunct for English Language Learners

: added or joined in order to be used with something
: added to a teaching staff for only a short time or in a lower position than other staff

Medical Dictionary

adjunct

play

noun ad·junct \ ˈaj-ˌəŋ(k)t \

medical Definition of adjunct

1 :a person associated with or assisting another in some duty or service

2 :adjuvant b

drugs used as short-term adjuncts in weight-loss programs

adjunct

adjective

medical Definition of adjunct

1 :added or joined as an accompanying object or circumstance

2 :attached in a subordinate or temporary capacity to a staff

an adjunct psychiatrist

Learn More about adjunct

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adjunct Synonyms

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adjunct

Definition of adjunct

adjunctly

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Origin and Etymology of adjunct

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ADJUNCT Defined for English Language Learners

adjunct

Definition of adjunct for English Language Learners

adjunct

Definition of adjunct for English Language Learners

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adjunct

medical Definition of adjunct

adjunct

medical Definition of adjunct

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