Showing results for "stranger"

• comparative of strange.

stranger

American  

[streyn-jer] / ˈstreɪn dʒər /

noun

strangers plural

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.

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stranger British  

/ 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

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Synonym Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• strangerlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• strangers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of stranger

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

Explanation

A stranger is someone you don't know or who doesn't belong in a specific place. Parents tell their kids, "Don't talk to strangers." That's because strangers are people they don't know, who could be dangerous. Just like strange things are odd or weird, a stranger is unknown and therefore potentially scary. Also, anyone out of place can be considered a stranger. A fireman in a police station is a stranger, and a mascot in a scientific lab is a stranger. Either type of stranger is likely to make someone say, "Who's that?"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stranger strangers

Because I’m a stranger who people regularly turn to for financial help, my inbox typically overflows with general questions like the one above.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

Then, on Sunday, the story got much stranger when the FDA announced that the sample provided by “Taylor Farms de Mexico,” which had initially tested positive, was actually a false positive.

From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026

Wangchuk, 59, is no stranger to refusing food as a form of protest.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

Quadir herself is no stranger to hard-fought battles.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026

Even though the stranger could now be identified in looks and temperament, Duane was not sure how to go about meeting her again, which he felt was important and necessary.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

“If that bothers you, don’t hesitate to mute or block me. I don’t have the capacity or patience to debate with internet strangers as to why they should be considerate of marginalized communities.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

Fans say wearing the look gives them a sense of freedom and infectious joy, and it creates an instant sense of community with total strangers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

"There were lots of people I didn't know and I'm not a confident eater in front of strangers, but I got used to it, and now I'll eat anywhere," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

Davies said she felt anxious whenever strangers appeared to recognise her in the supermarket.

From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026

Hundreds of people turned to friends, spouses, and strangers to ask: “Has the president been shot?”

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson

Related Words

• alien
• foreigner
• guest
• immigrant
• intruder
• newcomer
• outsider
• visitor