extracurricular

adjective

ex·​tra·​cur·​ric·​u·​lar ˌek-strə-kə-ˈri-kyə-lər 

1

: not falling within the scope of a regular curriculum

specifically : of or relating to officially or semiofficially approved and usually organized student activities (such as athletics) connected with school and usually carrying no academic credit

extracurricular sports

2

a

: lying outside one's regular duties or routine

b

: extramarital

extracurricular noun

Synonyms of extracurricular

• extramarital
• adulterous

Examples of extracurricular in a Sentence

hired a private detective to investigate her husband's extracurricular activities

Recent Examples on the Web

How do teachers carry on teaching, lecturing, checking homework and having students prepare for assessments, and how do students enjoy the pleasures that extracurricular activities bring? —Jerald McNair, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026

There’s been a long acceptance of congressmen’s extracurricular activities. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026

In the early 1970s, five students at San Rafael High School in Marin County, California, would meet after extracurricular activities near a wall at school. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026

Everyone has a side hustle, but Michaels’ extracurricular gigs include producing some of the biggest comedy hits of all time. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for extracurricular

• periarticular
• supraclavicular
• acicular
• articular
• curricular
• cuticular
• funicular
• lenticular
• navicular
• particular
• radicular
• reticular

Kids Definition

extracurricular

adjective

ex·​tra·​cur·​ric·​u·​lar ˌek-strə-kə-ˈrik-yə-lər 

: of or relating to those activities (as athletics) that are offered by a school but are not part of the course of study