adjunct

noun

ad·junct | \ ˈa-ˌjəŋ(k)t

Definition of adjunct

(Entry 1 of 2)

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 sense 2

3a : an associate or assistant of another

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

4 : adjuvant sense b

adjunct

adjective

Definition of adjunct (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : added or joined as an accompanying object or circumstance

2 : attached in a subordinate or temporary capacity to a staff an adjunct professor

Other Words from adjunct Synonyms Breaking Down Adjunct More Example Sentences Learn More about adjunct

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from adjunct

Noun

adjunctive \ a-ˈjəŋ(k)-tiv

, ə- \ adjective

Adjective

adjunctly \ ˈa-ˌjəŋ(k)-tlē

, -ˌjəŋk-lē \ adverb

Examples of adjunct in a Sentence

Noun 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. Adjective 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 on the Web: Noun There is emerging data to show that, for certain types of mental-health concerns, at low to moderate severity, certain types of digital tools, like those the V.A. uses, are a very effective adjunct to working with a therapist. — Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, "Recovering from the Emotional Challenges of the Pandemic," 30 Mar. 2021 On Friday, Reilly told The Enquirer Ucker's contract as an adjunct was not renewed. — Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, "UC professor who called COVID-19 'the Chinese virus' not asked to return," 22 Mar. 2021 Of course, hard things take courage to do, but the more powerful adjunct to courage is to try to avoid doing stupid things. — Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, "When entrepreneurs are close to getting what they want — why do they hesitate?," 22 Mar. 2021 Supposedly, the District of Columbia is a separate entity, not an adjunct of the White House when occupied by a Joe Biden or Barack Obama. — WSJ, "Jan. 6 and D.C.’s Political Death Inquests," 5 Mar. 2021 Under the Trump administration, the OLC instead functioned to a troubling degree as an adjunct of White House policy preferences, issuing opinions that did not convince the vast majority of constitutional lawyers. — Star Tribune, "Justice Department really needs Merrick Garland," 7 Jan. 2021 Making the Space Force a natural adjunct of the academy is one valuable way to do so. — Tom Rogan, Washington Examiner, "Space Force belongs in Colorado," 10 Dec. 2020 Leaders everywhere are experiencing pressure on both sides, said Phelan, the Georgetown University professor, who also is an adjunct at Georgetown’s Law Center. — cleveland, "Will Ohio’s overnight curfew reduce coronavirus spread?," 19 Nov. 2020 Your dog is no longer an outdoor adjunct to the family, but a full member in good standing. — Daniel Dorsa, Smithsonian Magazine, "The New Science of Our Ancient Bond With Dogs," 17 Nov. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Chelsea Clinton is an adjunct assistant professor of health policy and management at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and vice chair of the Clinton Foundation. — Chelsea Clinton, STAT, "End fracking exemptions, a threat to maternal and public health," 29 Apr. 2021 Delphin-Rittmon is an associate adjunct professor in Yale University’s Department of Psychiatry. — Jenna Carlesso, courant.com, "President Biden taps another one of Gov. Lamont’s commissioners for his administration. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon will join the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.," 27 Apr. 2021 In addition to her work at the District Attorney’s Office, Castro Rodriguez has maintained a private practice as a psychologist and therapist and has taught as an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco. — Megan Cassidy, San Francisco Chronicle, "Longtime head of victims' services in S.F. DA's office to step down next month," 27 Apr. 2021 For example, Mayo, then an adjunct professor, oversaw students in creating a Poisoned by ZIP Code report last spring, which analyzed publicly available information and interpreted it in a meaningful way for ordinary residents. — Sharon Grigsby, Dallas News, "Amid the worst environmental racism still heaped on vulnerable Dallas residents, Paul Quinn College joins the fight," 23 Apr. 2021 Cheri Barton Ross, an adjunct psychology professor at Santa Rosa Junior College, is a pioneer in the field. — Washington Post, "Coping with a pet’s accidental death — especially when you blame yourself," 23 Apr. 2021 John Rosen, an adjunct economics professor at the University of New Haven, also said that consumers should not expect to see relief at the pump soon. — Zachary Halaschak, Washington Examiner, "Gas prices not expected to fall anytime soon as US emerges from pandemic," 22 Apr. 2021 Starting May 1, Fagon will join the Medgar Evers College Cannabis Education Task Force as an adjunct professor for a 15-week course on Cannabis Horticulture. — Deidre Dyer, Vogue, "A Black-Owned Hemp Farm Flourishes in Hudson Valley," 20 Apr. 2021 What seems to be changing through this latest deal boom is that junior bankers are seeking professional help, said Alexandra Michel, researcher and adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. — NBC News, "Wall Street analysts battle weight loss, high blood pressure and mental health issues from long hours," 16 Apr. 2021

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.

History and Etymology for adjunct

Noun

borrowed from Latin adjunctum "concomitant factor," from neuter of adjunctus adjunct entry 2

Adjective

borrowed from Latin adjunctus, past participle of adjungere "to link up, join, add, attach" — more at adjoin

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about adjunct

Dictionary Entries near adjunct

Statistics for adjunct

Last Updated

6 Apr 2021

Cite this Entry

“Adjunct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adjunct. Accessed 5 May. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for adjunct

adjunct

noun

English Language Learners Definition of adjunct

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of adjunct (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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

See the full definition for adjunct in the English Language Learners Dictionary

adjunct

noun

ad·junct | \ ˈaj-ˌəŋ(k)t