Showing results for "stranger"

• comparative of strange.

stranger

American  

[strayn-jer] / ˈstreɪn dʒər /

noun

• strangers
  plural

1. a person with whom one has had no personal acquaintance.

   He is a perfect stranger to me.

   Antonyms:

   acquaintance

2. a newcomer in a place or locality.

   a stranger in town.

3. an outsider.

   They want no strangers in on the club meetings.

4. a person who is unacquainted with or unaccustomed to something (usually followed byto ).

   He is no stranger to poverty.

5. a person who is not a member of the family, group, community, or the like, as a visitor or guest.

   Our town shows hospitality to strangers.

6. Law. one not privy or party to an act, proceeding, etc.

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stranger British  

/ ˈstreɪndʒə /

noun

1. any person whom one does not know

2. a person who is new to a particular locality, from another region, town, etc

3. a guest or visitor

4. (foll by to) a person who is unfamiliar (with) or new (to) something

   he is no stranger to computers

5. law a person who is neither party nor privy to a transaction

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Synonym Usage

Stranger, foreigner both refer to someone regarded as outside of or distinct from a particular group. Stranger may apply to one who does not belong to some group—social, professional, national, etc.—or may apply to a person with whom one is not acquainted. Foreigner emphasizes a difference in language, customs, and background.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• strangerlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• strangers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of stranger

1325–75; Middle English, from Middle French estrangier, equivalent to estrange strange + -ier -ier ²

Explanation

A stranger is someone you don't know or who doesn't belong in a specific place. Parents tell their kids, "Don't talk to strangers." That's because strangers are people they don't know, who could be dangerous. Just like strange things are odd or weird, a stranger is unknown and therefore potentially scary. Also, anyone out of place can be considered a stranger. A fireman in a police station is a stranger, and a mascot in a scientific lab is a stranger. Either type of stranger is likely to make someone say, "Who's that?"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stranger strangers

And the person next to you, a stranger, feels it too, at the exact same moment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

That means we may never know with certainty whether the entire universe is infinite, finite, curved, or connected in some larger and stranger way.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 28, 2026

"That's coming from somebody who was a stranger and who I've only met three times. That's what nice people are."

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

My wife also pointed out that we had a deep emotional attachment to the house and did not want to see it sold to a stranger.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026

Mary Todd Lincoln was no stranger to tragedy.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

"I suppose that's the risk of sending it off around the world with complete strangers."

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

Social media made hyping them much easier because thousands of bots or unwitting strangers could help amplify a well-crafted effort.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

The South L.A. native recently moved back home after living in Kansas, where she told Corinne that strangers seemed far more at ease living with each other.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

Maintaining an openness to people — and a willingness to strengthen connections with everyone from distant or estranged family members to friends, acquaintances and strangers — enables you to benefit from more social interaction.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

Maggie and Kate stretched, soaked their feet, embroidered, or read a bit to release the strain of introducing the spirits to so many strangers.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Related Words

• alien
• foreigner
• guest
• immigrant
• intruder
• newcomer
• outsider
• visitor