Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

miscellaneous

[mis-uh-ley-nee-uhs]
See more synonyms for miscellaneous on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. consisting of members or elements of different kinds; of mixed character: a book of miscellaneous essays on American history.
  2. having various qualities, aspects, or subjects: a miscellaneous discussion.
Show More

Origin of miscellaneous

1630–40; < Latin miscellāneus mixed, of all sorts, equivalent to miscell(us) mixed + -ān(us) -an + -eus -eous
Related formsmis·cel·la·ne·ous·ly, adverbmis·cel·la·ne·ous·ness, noun

Synonyms for miscellaneous

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com
1. divers, varied, heterogeneous, diversified. Miscellaneous, indiscriminate, promiscuous refer to mixture and lack of order, and may imply lack of discernment or taste. Miscellaneous emphasizes the idea of the mixture of things of different kinds or natures: a miscellaneous assortment of furniture. Indiscriminate emphasizes lack of discrimination in choice (and consequent confusion): indiscriminate praise. Promiscuous is even stronger than indiscriminate in its emphasis of complete absence of discrimination: promiscuous in his friendships.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for miscellaneous

sundry, assorted, confused, conglomerate, different, disordered, disparate, divergent, diverse, heterogeneous, indiscriminate, jumbled, many, mixed, motley, muddled, multifarious, odd, promiscuous, scattered

Examples from the Web for miscellaneous

Contemporary Examples of miscellaneous

Historical Examples of miscellaneous

  • Above these were eight levels of Food, Clothing and Miscellaneous industries.

  • But these miscellaneous and figurative forces are not what we are considering.

  • Keep the room clean and free of miscellaneous tools and rubbish.

  • They are uncouth figures, with vague legends and miscellaneous attributes.

    History of Religion

    Allan Menzies

  • Oh man, man, what an eye for miscellaneous beauty is that with which your sex is gifted!

    Shoulder-Straps

    Henry Morford

British Dictionary definitions for miscellaneous

miscellaneous

adjective
  1. composed of or containing a variety of things; mixed; varied
  2. having varied capabilities, sides, etc
Show More
Derived Formsmiscellaneously, adverbmiscellaneousness, noun

Word Origin for miscellaneous

C17: from Latin miscellāneus, from miscellus mixed, from miscēre to mix
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for miscellaneous

adj.

1630s, from Latin miscellaneus "mixed, miscellaneous," from miscellus "mixed," from miscere "to mix" (see mix (v.)). Related: Miscellaneously.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper