appendage

American  

[uh-pen-dij] / əˈpɛn dɪdʒ /

noun

1. a subordinate part attached to something; an auxiliary part; addition.

2. Anatomy, Zoology. any member of the body diverging from the axial trunk.

3. Botany, Mycology. any subsidiary part superadded to another part.

4. a person in a subordinate or dependent position, especially a servile or parasitic follower.

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appendage British  

/ əˈpɛndɪdʒ /

noun

1. an ancillary or secondary part attached to a main part; adjunct

2. zoology any organ that projects from the trunk of animals such as arthropods

3. botany any subsidiary part of a plant, such as a branch or leaf

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Other Word Forms

• appendaged adjective
• unappendaged adjective

Etymology

Origin of appendage

First recorded in 1640–50; append + -age

Example Sentences

It is a device that reduces stroke risk for AFib patients by sealing the left atrial appendage, which is where stroke risk starts.

From Barron's • Jan. 16, 2026

What’s important is understanding how human hands can grasp an object, and then extrapolating that to whatever synthetic appendage has been chosen, she added.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 27, 2025

He played with a small cast on his left hand and was even using that bandaged appendage to stiff-arm defenders.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025

These teeth line a cartilage-based structure known as the tenaculum, a forehead appendage that loosely resembles Squidward's nose.

From Science Daily • Oct. 16, 2025

“Europe,” said Madame Szegeczowska, in her soft French, “is essentially an economic appendage of the Northern Region. We know it, and it doesn’t matter.”

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

Related Words

• arm
• extremity
• foot
• hand
• leg
• limb