appendage

noun ap·pend·age \ ə-ˈpen-dij \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of appendage

1 : an adjunct to something larger or more important : appurtenance

2 : a usually projecting part of an animal or plant body that is typically smaller and of less functional importance than the main part to which it is attached; especially : a limb or analogous part (such as a seta)

[appendant]

: a dependent or subordinate person

See appendage defined for English-language learners

See appendage defined for kids

Examples of appendage in a Sentence

The court system acts as an appendage to the government.
an appendage of a larger political party

Recent Examples of appendage from the Web

Does the Department of Education have a DARPA-like appendage that is imagining what the future of ed tech is?

— recode staff, Recode, "Full transcript: Chris Kirchhoff, formerly of the Pentagon’s Silicon Valley office, on Recode Decode," 31 Mar. 2018
Currently, robots are confined in cages because their hard appendages can hurt people, Mr. Ooga says.

— daniela hernandez, WSJ, "Robots Are Learning to Handle With Care," 11 Mar. 2018
Like other deep-sea anglerfish, the female has a bioluminescent, lurelike appendage that drifts in front of her head to attract prey.

— katie langin, Science | AAAS, "Exclusive: ‘I’ve never seen anything like it’. Video of mating deep-sea anglerfish stuns biologists," 22 Mar. 2018
His full-body inspection includes checking all the mechanisms inside Olaf’s head, as well as confirming that all appendages are working and lined up just so.

— jessica gelt, latimes.com, "The curious care and feeding of Olaf the snowman in Broadway's 'Frozen'," 15 Mar. 2018
With its front grille and a side quarter panel dangling like detached appendages, cellphone video shows the SUV apparently trying to leave the scene.

— doug phillips, Sun-Sentinel.com, "SUV bashed with sledgehammer, chased by witnesses when trying to flee hit-run, reports say," 12 Mar. 2018
Robots with pliant, dexterous—and fast—appendages are gaining popularity as companies in retail, food handling and agriculture move toward more automation.

— daniela hernandez, WSJ, "Robots Are Learning to Handle With Care," 11 Mar. 2018
The Houston day-care teacher is now coming to terms with the ravages of a flesh-eating infection that burrowed into his appendage.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "He thought it was just a blister, but it ended with his foot being amputated," 5 Mar. 2018
Tucked under the cornucopia of aero and design appendages sit some drop-dead serious bits of hardware that check all the boxes.

— jim resnick, Ars Technica, "America finally gets Honda’s best: The 2018 Civic Type R," 22 Jan. 2018

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

The Root of appendage

Appendix isn't the only noun that comes from append. Unlike appendix, appendage doesn't suggest the end of something, but simply something attached. The word is often used in biology to refer to parts of an animal's body: an insect's antennae, mouthparts, or wings, for example. The appendages of some animals will grow back after they've been removed; a salamander, for example, can regrow a finger, and the tiny sea squirt can regrow all its appendages—and even its brain.

First Known Use of appendage

1647

appendage Synonyms

Synonyms

accessory (also accessary), accoutrement (or accouterment), adapter (also adaptor), add-on, adjunct, appliance, attachment, option;

Near Antonyms

essential, necessity, requirement, requisite;

auxiliary, subsidiary;

amenity, doodad, extra, filler, frill, incidental, luxury, nonessential, nonnecessity;

appurtenances, bells and whistles, equipment, furnishings, paraphernalia, trappings;

adornment, decoration, embellishment, enhancement, ornament, trim, trimming;

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

APPENDAGE Defined for English Language Learners

appendage

noun

Definition of appendage for English Language Learners

medical : a body part (such as an arm or a leg) connected to the main part of the body
: something connected or joined to a larger or more important thing