stranger

[streyn-jer]

noun

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.

stranger

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• strangerlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stranger¹

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

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

My table of strangers look at each other apprehensively, now that it’s clear this night will not be a calm, fully seated one.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

As anyone who has spent time in a hair salon knows, the human comedy is on full display as relative strangers literally and figuratively let their hair down.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Eliot — no stranger to feline alter egos — responded earnestly to a poetic quibble.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And eventually there will be a team based overseas where Spanish is heard, visiting teams carry passports and Bad Bunny is no stranger.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In Israel, strangers approach and tell him he is a hero.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• alien 
• foreigner 
• guest 
• immigrant 
• intruder www.thesaurus.com
• newcomer 
• outsider 
• visitor