stranger

noun strang·er \ ˈstrān-jər \

|Updated on: 19 Aug 2018

Examples: stranger in a Sentence

Definition of stranger

1 : one who is strange: such as

a (1) : foreigner

(2) : a resident alien

b : one in the house of another as a guest, visitor, or intruder

c : a person or thing that is unknown or with whom one is unacquainted

d : one who does not belong to or is kept from the activities of a group

e : one not privy or party to an act, contract, or title : one that interferes without right

2 : one ignorant of or unacquainted with someone or something

See stranger defined for English-language learners

See stranger defined for kids

Examples of stranger in a Sentence

Children are taught not to talk to strangers.
He is a complete stranger to me.
“Excuse me. Do you know where the library is?” “I'm sorry. I'm a stranger here myself.”
I'm a stranger to the area.

Recent Examples of stranger from the Web

Zalewski said work was done on the house during the day and suspects had some interaction with the strangers who were in the home.

— karen pilarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Woman and child injured during overnight home invasion in Wauwatosa," 13 July 2018
Craven says to Messina at one point, dismissing the stranger’s theories.

— michael phillips, chicagotribune.com, "'Sharp Objects' review: a riveting Amy Adams solves a gone-girls murder mystery," 5 July 2018
The two spoke about Vera's outreach work -- and eventually, the wheelchair exchange between him and the stranger led to a segment on a television program and later to other Russian news outlets.

— christopher brito, CBS News, "Handicapped soccer fan donates wheelchair to Russian man during FIFA World Cup in Moscow," 2 July 2018
No one accosted us, though strangers loved to talk about the car.

— lauren oster, Redbook, "A Spontaneous Road Trip With My Husband Changed My Life," 26 June 2018
In the Old Testament, God consistently shows a special concern for those who are poor and vulnerable, especially the widow, the orphan, and the stranger.

— joseph holt, Fortune, "I’m a Biblical Scholar. It’s Clear That Jeff Sessions Needs a Bible Lesson," 20 June 2018
The next day, the stranger is back, bleeding from a puncture wound.

— nancy lord, Anchorage Daily News, "Anchorage novelist tells a gothic tale set among dog mushers in Interior Alaska," 16 June 2018
However, that hasn't prevented her in the past from taking an inside look into some of the stranger trends out there (like, manicures featuring faces and hair courtesy of makeup artist Dain Yoon).

— refinery29.com, "Ellen DeGeneres Is Going On Tour For The First Time In 15 Years," 14 June 2018
Colangelo’s resignation marked the predicted result of one of the stranger sports stories in years.

— andrew joseph, For The Win, "Bryan Colangelo's resignation brings back memories of Jerry Colangelo's ousting in Arizona," 7 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of stranger

Middle English, from Anglo-French estrangier stranger, foreigner, from estrange

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

stranger Synonyms

stranger

adjective

Definition of stranger

: of, relating to, or being a stranger : foreign

Recent Examples of stranger from the Web

Every pro sports star has signed tons and tons of autographs for fans, but some of them have signed stranger things than others.

— alysha tsuji, For The Win, "J.J. Watt's weirdest autograph: Signed pregnant woman's belly, then later met her baby," 7 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of stranger

15th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

stranger

verb

Definition of stranger

strangered; strangering; strangers

transitive verb

obsolete

: estrange, alienate

First Known Use of stranger

1606

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

STRANGER Defined for English Language Learners

stranger

noun

Definition of stranger for English Language Learners

: someone who you have not met before or do not know
: someone who has not experienced something
: someone who is in a new and unfamiliar place

STRANGER Defined for Kids

stranger

noun strang·er \ ˈstrān-jər \

Definition of stranger for Students

1 : a person in a new or unfamiliar place

She is a stranger here and does not know her way around.

2 : a person whom another person does not know or has not met

Children should not talk to strangers.

Law Dictionary

stranger

noun strang·er

legal Definition of stranger

: someone who is not a party or in privity with a party (as to a contract or legal action)

may be enforced against a stranger to the contract

Learn More about stranger

See words that rhyme with stranger Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for stranger Spanish Central: Translation of stranger Nglish: Translation of stranger for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of stranger for Arabic speakers

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stranger

Definition of stranger

Examples of stranger in a Sentence

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stranger

Definition of stranger

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stranger

Definition of stranger

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STRANGER Defined for English Language Learners

stranger

Definition of stranger for English Language Learners

STRANGER Defined for Kids

stranger

Definition of stranger for Students

Law Dictionary

stranger

legal Definition of stranger

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