stranger
Americannoun
-
a person with whom one has had no personal acquaintance.
He is a perfect stranger to me.
- Antonyms:
- acquaintance
-
a newcomer in a place or locality.
a stranger in town.
-
an outsider.
They want no strangers in on the club meetings.
-
a person who is unacquainted with or unaccustomed to something (usually followed byto ).
He is no stranger to poverty.
-
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.
-
Law. one not privy or party to an act, proceeding, etc.
noun
-
any person whom one does not know
-
a person who is new to a particular locality, from another region, town, etc
-
a guest or visitor
-
(foll by to) a person who is unfamiliar (with) or new (to) something
he is no stranger to computers
-
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"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia, List 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Old World New World" and "The Log of Christopher Columbus"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
All-conquering Pogacar raised the idea that his remarkable reality is proving stranger than fiction, describing it as "something you wouldn't even maybe write in a story book".
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
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
How could he embrace this stranger as his twin?
From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026
She rarely even spoke to me, so I found it strange that she would ask for my help, but the chore she wanted help with was even stranger.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
“This feature potentially gives strangers a window into a child’s life,” the commission said in a statement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
"And then Jimothy shows up and for one brief weird moment everyone is on the same page - rooting for this little gremlin, giggling at his name, feeling weirdly connected to strangers over absolutely nothing."
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
With 10 domestic T20 trophies between them, Northants Steelbacks, reigning champions Somerset, Hampshire Hawks and Notts Outlaws are no strangers to 20-over cricket's showpiece event.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
People have sent her nasty messages online, and strangers have stopped her on the street to tell her they hope Argentina loses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Macon and Lily were technically their grandparents, but they were also strangers.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
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.
