ad·junct
ˈa-ˌjəŋ(k)t 
1
: something joined or added to another thing but not essentially a part of it
The website is designed as an adjunct to the book.
2
grammar
a
: a word or word group that qualifies or completes the meaning of another word or other words and is not itself a main structural element in its sentence
b
: an adverb or adverbial phrase (such as heartily in "They ate heartily" or at noon in "We left at noon") attached to the verb of a clause especially to express a relation of time, place, frequency, degree, or manner compare disjunct sense 2
3
a
: an associate or assistant of another
b
: an adjunct faculty member at a college or university (see adjunct entry 2 sense 2)
4
1
: added or joined as an accompanying object or circumstance
2
: attached in a subordinate or temporary capacity to a staff
an adjunct professor
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Breaking Down Adjunct
With its prefix, ad-, meaning "to or toward", adjunct implies that one thing is "joined to" another. A car wash may be operated as an adjunct to a gas station. An adjunct professor is one who's attached to the college without being a full member of the salaried faculty. And anyone trying to expand his or her vocabulary will find that daily reading of a newspaper is a worthwhile adjunct to actual vocabulary study.
Synonyms
Examples of adjunct in a Sentence
Noun
Because Joseph Ellis has been an outspoken critic of social and women's history, he appears a peculiar choice to write the foreword, despite his many publications on the Revolutionary era. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, he treats Abigail here more as her husband's adjunct and supporter than as her own woman.
—
Anthony Lewis, New York Times Book Review, 4 Nov. 2007
As an adjunct to its basic educational role, the public library will increasingly serve as an access point to the resources of other libraries as well as to nonlibrary sources of publicly available information.
—Fred Lerner, The Story of Libraries, (1945) 1998
In A.D. 400 western Europe was merely a geographic expression. Roman civilization was centered on the Mediterranean, and France, England, and the Rhine valley were mere adjuncts of the Mediterranean world.
—Norman F. Cantor, The Civilization of the Middle Ages, 1993
Massage therapy can be used as an adjunct along with the medication.
In “They ate heartily,” the word heartily is an adjunct and in “We left at noon,” the phrase at noon is an adjunct.
Adjective
But it's Sainte-Marie's less-well-known life as a computer geek—and an adjunct professor of digital art, Native American studies, and philosophy at several universities—that brings her to midtown Manhattan today.
—Ophira Edut, Ms., August/September 1999
There is a terrible shortage of jobs in the universities, where, increasingly, men and women with Ph.D.s hang on to various forms of underpaid adjunct posts. Believe me, it happens at Harvard, too.
—Martin Peretz, New Republic, 5 July 1999
Using his chauffeur-driven car as an adjunct office, the designer shuttles among the design ateliers of his three major collections: the one that bears his name; Chanel, and, after a seven-year hiatus, Chloé.
—Carrie Donovan, New York Times Magazine, 11 Oct. 1992
massage therapy as an adjunct treatment
Anthony Lewis, New York Times Book Review, 4 Nov. 2007
As an adjunct to its basic educational role, the public library will increasingly serve as an access point to the resources of other libraries as well as to nonlibrary sources of publicly available information.
—Fred Lerner, The Story of Libraries, (1945) 1998
In A.D. 400 western Europe was merely a geographic expression. Roman civilization was centered on the Mediterranean, and France, England, and the Rhine valley were mere adjuncts of the Mediterranean world.
—Norman F. Cantor, The Civilization of the Middle Ages, 1993
Massage therapy can be used as an adjunct along with the medication.
In “They ate heartily,” the word heartily is an adjunct and in “We left at noon,” the phrase at noon is an adjunct.
Adjective
But it's Sainte-Marie's less-well-known life as a computer geek—and an adjunct professor of digital art, Native American studies, and philosophy at several universities—that brings her to midtown Manhattan today.
—Ophira Edut, Ms., August/September 1999
There is a terrible shortage of jobs in the universities, where, increasingly, men and women with Ph.D.s hang on to various forms of underpaid adjunct posts. Believe me, it happens at Harvard, too.
—Martin Peretz, New Republic, 5 July 1999
Using his chauffeur-driven car as an adjunct office, the designer shuttles among the design ateliers of his three major collections: the one that bears his name; Chanel, and, after a seven-year hiatus, Chloé.
—Carrie Donovan, New York Times Magazine, 11 Oct. 1992
massage therapy as an adjunct treatment
Recent Examples on the WebRichard Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 2 Nov. 2021
Attacks on academic freedom that define universities as mere adjuncts of state power are less enlightened in their understanding of the relationship between universities and political authority than some medieval doctrines.
—Bradford Vivian / Made By History, TIME, 16 Aug. 2024
Katia Hetter, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024
Tio Hardiman is founder and executive director of Violence Interrupters Inc., an adjunct professor who specializes in restorative justice and a national speaker on anti-violence efforts.
—Tio Hardiman, Chicago Tribune, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for adjunct 
Noun
Anticommunism and counterterrorism were the right approaches, but the disproportionate focus on them led American policymakers to ignore other compelling issues or to see them as mere adjuncts to the overarching strategic priority.
—Richard Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 2 Nov. 2021
Attacks on academic freedom that define universities as mere adjuncts of state power are less enlightened in their understanding of the relationship between universities and political authority than some medieval doctrines.
—Bradford Vivian / Made By History, TIME, 16 Aug. 2024
Adjective
Related article How to stop using alcohol as a confidence crutch
Wen is an emergency physician and adjunct associate professor at George Washington University.
—Katia Hetter, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024
Tio Hardiman is founder and executive director of Violence Interrupters Inc., an adjunct professor who specializes in restorative justice and a national speaker on anti-violence efforts.
—Tio Hardiman, Chicago Tribune, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for adjunct
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'adjunct.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near adjunct
Cite this Entry
“Adjunct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adjunct. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
adjunct
1 of 2 noun
ad·junct
ˈaj-ˌəŋ(k)t
1
: a person associated with or assisting another in some duty or service
2
: adjuvant sense b
drugs used as short-term adjuncts in weight-loss programs
adjunct
2 of 2 adjective1
: added or joined as an accompanying object or circumstance
2
: attached in a subordinate or temporary capacity to a staff
an adjunct psychiatrist
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