appendage

noun ap·pend·age \ ə-ˈpen-dij \

|Updated on: 19 Jun 2018

Editor's Note: The Root of appendage

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

In particular, the drugs appeared to fuel the growth of dendritic spines and axons, the appendages that brain cells of all sorts use to reach out in the darkness and create connections, or synapses, with other brain cells.

— melissa healy, latimes.com, "Psychedelic drugs change brain cells in ways that could help fight depression, addiction and more," 12 June 2018
The real healing begins when a society, even a small part of it, demands that the rotting appendage is not welcome within the body politic any longer.

— jackson holahan, The Christian Science Monitor, "'The Good Mothers' profiles the female prosecutor who took on Italy's mafia," 6 June 2018
In one experiment, when the hands and feet mirrored the participants’ own movements, people reported feeling as if the space between the appendages were their own bodies.

— steph yin, New York Times, "In Virtual Reality, How Much Body Do You Need?," 17 May 2018
This time, a man walking the beach on Gabriola Island discovered the appendage last Sunday afternoon, trapped in a mass of logs, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

— author: amy b wang, Anchorage Daily News, "A 14th human foot – this one in a hiking boot – washes ashore in Canada," 14 May 2018
This time, a man walking the beach on Gabriola Island discovered the appendage last Sunday afternoon, trapped in a mass of logs, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

— amy b wang, The Seattle Times, "A 14th human foot – this one in a hiking boot – washes ashore in Canada," 14 May 2018
Hands can also be spotted as appendages in mobile-like light fixtures and standing lamps inspired by Serge Mouille’s works.

— lilah ramzi, Vogue, "Crosby Studios Opens an Ultra-Cool, Ultraviolet Pop-Up at Opening Ceremony," 10 May 2018
Fox, 27, was thrown from the other side of the boat as Ndlovu desperately fought with the animal to free her appendage from its mouth.

— lauren porter, Essence.com, "A Crocodile Bit Off This Bride's Arm Days Before Her Wedding...And She Still Got Married!," 9 May 2018
Aside from the feathered appendages, Perry's look included a gold chainmail mini dress and thigh-high gold boots.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Katy Perry Wore Actual Angel Wings on the Met Gala Red Carpet," 8 May 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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

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