auxiliary

American  

[awg-zil-yuh-ree, -zil-uh-] / ɔgˈzɪl yə ri, -ˈzɪl ə- /

adjective

1. additional; supplementary; reserve.

   an auxiliary police force.

2. used as a substitute or reserve in case of need.

   The hospital has an auxiliary power system in case of a blackout.

   Synonyms:

   secondary, ancillary, backup

3. (of a boat) having an engine that can be used to supplement the sails.

   an auxiliary yawl.

4. giving support; serving as an aid; helpful.

   The mind and emotions are auxiliary to each other. Passion is auxiliary to art.

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noun

plural

auxiliaries

1. a person or thing that gives aid of any kind; helper.

   Synonyms:

   help, assistant, ally, aide

2. an organization allied with, but subsidiary to, a main body of restricted membership, especially one composed of members' relatives.

   The men's club and the ladies' auxiliary were merged into one organization.

3. auxiliary verb.

4. auxiliaries, foreign troops in the service of a nation at war.

5. Navy. a naval vessel designed for other than combat purposes, as a tug, supply ship, or transport.

6. Nautical. a sailing vessel carrying an auxiliary propulsion engine or engines.

auxiliary British  

/ -ˈzɪlə-, ɔːɡˈzɪljərɪ /

adjective

1. secondary or supplementary

2. supporting

3. nautical (of a sailing vessel) having an engine

   an auxiliary sloop

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noun

1. a person or thing that supports or supplements; subordinate or assistant

2. nautical

   1. a sailing vessel with an engine

   2. the engine of such a vessel

3. navy a vessel such as a tug, hospital ship, etc, not used for combat

Etymology

Origin of auxiliary

1595–1605; < Latin auxiliārius assisting, aiding, helping, equivalent to auxili ( um ) aid, help ( aux ( us ) increased, augmented (past participle of augēre: aug- increase + -sus, variant of -tus past participle suffix) + -ilium noun suffix) + -ārius -ary

Explanation

When you're offering something in support of an already existing thing, you're offering something auxiliary. The auxiliary police will help out the regular police with things like directing traffic and crowd control when there's a special event in town. The Latin word auxilium means "help," and so auxiliary means something that "helps" by providing backup or support. Think of auxiliary verbs (sometimes called helper verbs), that provide support within a verb phrase, as "is" does in "Helen is playing." You can have an auxiliary engine in a car, an auxiliary cook at a restaurant, an auxiliary electrical network at a factory, or auxiliary troops standing by during battle. A "Ladies Auxiliary" functions as support for institutions such as churches, synagogues, or charities.

Example Sentences

The Vatican announced the nomination of Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, 55, currently an auxiliary bishop in Washington, to the diocese of Wheeling-Charleston in the poor mountainous state of West Virginia.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

The offer - aimed at avoiding industrial action – applied to doctors, nurses and auxiliary staff, but not homecare workers in the independent sector.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

But the celebrations in one Tehran neighborhood were also furtive and short lived to avoid riot police or members of the Basij, a voluntary auxiliary force with the Revolutionary Guards.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026

According to the Geneva Conventions, to which Russia is a party, former POWs can’t be employed on active military service, only in auxiliary roles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 22, 2025

The ladies’ auxiliary of the Rotary Club canceled the azalea contest which was to be held in the gymnasium of the high school.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

Related Words

• ancillary