extracurricular
Americanadjective
-
outside the regular curriculum or program of courses.
football, orchestra, and other extracurricular activities.
-
outside one's regular work, responsibilities, or routine.
-
Informal. outside the conventional bounds of propriety or ethics.
Does his wife know he has an extracurricular girlfriend?
adjective
-
taking place outside the normal school timetable
extracurricular activities
-
beyond the regular duties, schedule, etc
Etymology
Origin of extracurricular
First recorded in 1920–25; extra- + curricular ( def. )
Explanation
Something extracurricular takes place in addition to your regular school or work duties. Being involved in extracurricular activities in high school — like sports or journalism — can help you get accepted to the college of your choice. Extracurricular is a combination of the Latin prefix extra- meaning "on the outside" and the word curriculum, meaning "a running, course, career." Something that is extracurricular is on the outside of your course or career. When you get involved in an extracurricular activity, you are going outside of what's expected. Extracurricular can also refer to a spouse's adulterous activities, taking place outside of their marriage commitment.
Vocabulary lists containing extracurricular
The Vocabulary of College
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Make a Run for It: Cur, Curs
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Words with 15 or More Letters, List 4
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Once a quirky background detail that played an outsized role in his nomination, Kavanaugh’s extracurricular interests have now been elevated by the Supreme Court into a legal fixture of constitutional law.
From Slate ● Jun. 30, 2026
The share of American students who have jobs has been declining for decades, as many shifted their focus to academics and extracurricular activities.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 18, 2026
“I have seen firsthand the strengths of its instructional program, comprehensive extracurricular offerings, deeply committed alumni network and robust mental health and social emotional support,” she wrote in a letter to the county.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
They can usually direct their donations toward funding a specific mission – perhaps in memory of a favorite professor, supporting cancer research or to support extracurricular activities such as sports.
From Salon ● Apr. 5, 2026
“But your definition of school isn’t really one thing, it’s many different things, Craig: extracurricular activities plus sports plus volunteering. That’s not to mention homework.”
From "It’s Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
