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

• accessory
• accessary
• accoutrement
• accouterment
• adapter
• adaptor
• add-on
• adjunct
• appliance
• attachment
• option

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

Both carrots and grapes are fitted with horses’ heads and stick appendages. —David Toomey, Discover Magazine, 16 Aug. 2024

In the new study, the team identified a pair of large appendages with grasping jagged edges near the creature’s mouth. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 25 July 2024

These small, paired appendages near the mouth bite, hold and tear food, and arthropods with these mouthparts are called mandibulates. —Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 30 July 2024

The device could know when it’s docked to a speaker — potentially via a MagSafe appendage that could enable an iPad version of Apple’s StandBy feature for the iPhone. —Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 16 July 2024

Word History

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)