stranger
Americannoun
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strangers
plural
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a person with whom one has had no personal acquaintance.
He is a perfect stranger to me.
- Antonyms:
- acquaintance
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a newcomer in a place or locality.
a stranger in town.
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an outsider.
They want no strangers in on the club meetings.
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a person who is unacquainted with or unaccustomed to something (usually followed byto ).
He is no stranger to poverty.
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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.
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Law. one not privy or party to an act, proceeding, etc.
noun
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any person whom one does not know
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a person who is new to a particular locality, from another region, town, etc
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a guest or visitor
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(foll by to) a person who is unfamiliar (with) or new (to) something
he is no stranger to computers
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law a person who is neither party nor privy to a transaction
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
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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?"
Vocabulary lists containing stranger
"Encounter"
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"One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia, List 1
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"Old World New World" and "The Log of Christopher Columbus"
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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.
See Examples For:
Dave said he was particularly touched when a stranger responded to his Facebook appeal looking for a 1981 DeLorean DMC-12.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
The idea of letting children consume goodies prepared by a stranger might seem unthinkable now, but Chason Gordon argues that we’ve lost something by relying solely on store-bought candy.
From Slate ● Oct. 29, 2026
A stranger passes by, intruding momentarily on our conversation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
My sweater sorcery ensures such an approaching person is no longer a stranger but a friend I’m about to make.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026
A better use of his time was to share his discovery of the stranger to his other friends, which he did right away.
From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el
"We have no problem with strangers as long as they respect boundaries."
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
What followed was a story that has resonated worldwide as 11 strangers answered the call and helped transform loss and heartbreak into an unforgettable week of connection, companionship and adventure.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
Lithium miners are no strangers to volatility and plan investments based on long-term price expectations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
Still, there’s real value in leaving home and finding a place to listen — not simply hear, but listen —alongside strangers who love the art and spirit of music as much as you do.
From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2026
It was weird to think of strangers missing Mom.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
