extracurricular

American  

[ek-struh-kuh-rik-yuh-ler] / ˌɛk strə kəˈrɪk yə lər /

adjective

1. outside the regular curriculum or program of courses.

   football, orchestra, and other extracurricular activities.

2. outside one's regular work, responsibilities, or routine.

3. Informal. outside the conventional bounds of propriety or ethics.

   Does his wife know he has an extracurricular girlfriend?

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extracurricular British  

/ ˌɛkstrəkəˈrɪkjʊlə /

adjective

1. taking place outside the normal school timetable

   extracurricular activities

2. beyond the regular duties, schedule, etc

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Etymology

Origin of extracurricular

First recorded in 1920–25; extra- + curricular ( def. )

Example Sentences

Seven out of 10 students surveyed by College Pulse in 2023 said they primarily join extracurricular activities to make friends and build social connections.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

Apps or technologies serving extracurricular programs or sports teams can claim they weren’t designed and marketed for the classroom, or that their use isn’t mandatory, said Vance.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2026

Since 1979, teen labor-force participation has fallen from around 60% to 35%-40%, due to a tightening of labor laws, socio-economic changes and more school commitments and extracurricular activities.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 16, 2026

School officials said the exclusion was unacceptable, noting that educational programmes and extracurricular activities are held on those days.

From Barron's • Jan. 13, 2026

“So I was talking to my guidance counselor about college and how I need some extracurricular activities,” he says while loading dishes into the washer.

From "Amina's Voice" by Hena Khan

Related Words

• cheating
• illicit