stranger

[ streyn-jer ]

noun

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 by to ):

   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.

stranger

/ 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

Other Words From

• stranger·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stranger¹

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

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Estrada, who previously led legal and policy operations at Bird and government relations at Lyft, is no stranger to playing ball with regulatory agencies.

From TechCrunch

From what career you choose to what sandwich you want for lunch, we care about what our friends, families, and complete strangers think—otherwise, Yelp wouldn’t exist.

From Singularity Hub 

You brush against strangers in the street and see what reaction your touch evokes.

From MIT Technology Review

A total stranger had lost access to his bitcoin private keys—and wanted Stay’s help getting his $300,000 back.

From Singularity Hub 

In the first study, singles went on a blind date with a stranger and reported how things went.

From Nautilus

When I first arrived at Duke, hooking up with a stranger seemed like a way to shed my inhibitions.

From The Daily Beast

And his pitiless beliefs would be no stranger to the political discourse of today.

From The Daily Beast

The rate of partner violence dwarfs the number  of women who experience sexual assault from a stranger (7%).

From The Daily Beast

“The social convention of not talking to a stranger was fairly rigid at the time,” Weber told me.

From The Daily Beast

As Europe closes its shores to immigrants and refugees, the pope asks for welcome of the stranger fleeing war.

From The Daily Beast

Before Ripperda could unclasp his lips to reply, the stranger had opened the door, and passed through it like a gliding shadow.

From Project Gutenberg

None other would dare to show herself unveiled to a stranger, and a white man at that.

From Project Gutenberg

Weimar being such a "kleines Nest (little nest)," as Liszt calls it, every stranger is immediately remarked.

From Project Gutenberg

The stranger was approaching the front entrance, Hedges was wheeling off to the back; but the former turned and spoke.

From Project Gutenberg

"I read a notice of his marriage in the public papers," continued the stranger, whose eyes were fixed on Hedges.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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