appendage

noun

ap·​pend·​age ə-ˈpen-dij 

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)

3

[appendant] : a dependent or subordinate person

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms of appendage

• accessory
• option
• appliance

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 on the Web

Researchers said the spikes are appendages that represent a unique evolutionary innovation. —Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026

Seadragons, the plaques inform, are related to seahorses — but with leafy appendages. —Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026

Pollak had discovered the missing appendage at a Roman building yard in 1906, the actual arm not stiffly raising upward at a thirty degree angle, but rather falling backwards behind the figure. —Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026

The local casino, once an appendage to a gas station outside town, has morphed into a world-class resort, entertainment center, and economic engine. —Vishal Khetpal, STAT, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

append + -age

Note: As noted by the Oxford English Dictionary, first edition, the formation may have been to some extent conditioned by appen(n)age, variant spellings of appanage, matched by equivalent variant spellings of the cognate word in French.

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

appendage

noun

ap·​pend·​age ə-ˈpen-dij 

1

: something attached to a larger or more important thing

2

: a projecting part (as an antenna) of an animal or plant body

especially : an arm, leg, or similar part

Medical Definition

appendage

noun

ap·​pend·​age ə-ˈpen-dij 

: a subordinate or derivative body part

especially : a limb or analogous part (as a seta)