stranger

noun

strang·​er ˈstrān-jər 

1

: one who is strange: such as

a(1)

: foreigner

… ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.

—Numbers 9:14 (King James Version)

(2)

: a foreign-born resident

b

: one in the house of another as a guest, visitor, or intruder

c

: a person or thing that is unknown or with whom one is unacquainted

told the children not to talk to strangers

He is a complete/perfect/total stranger to me.

d

informal : an acquaintance who has been long absent : an acquaintance who has not been seen for a longer period than usual

Well, hello, stranger! I haven't seen you in ages.

e

: one who does not belong to or is kept from the activities of a group

f

: one not privy or party to an act, contract, or title : one that interferes without right

2

a

: someone who is in a new and unfamiliar place

Can you help me? I'm a stranger here.

b

: one ignorant of or unacquainted with someone or something

He is a stranger to losing.

—often used in negative statements

She is no stranger to controversy. [=she has been involved in controversy before]

Synonyms of stranger

• foreigner
• alien

Examples of stranger in a Sentence

Children are taught not to talk to strangers.

He is a complete stranger to me.

“Excuse me. Do you know where the library is?” “I'm sorry. I'm a stranger here myself.”

I'm a stranger to the area.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Stanley Cup Final is the biggest stage the NHL has to offer, and the Vegas Golden Knights are no strangers to it, having made it three times in a franchise history that is only nine seasons long. —Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2026

His paella has become a beloved tradition—an excuse to gather with friends, chat up strangers, maybe sip a glass of wine. —Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026

People were hugging and high-fiving strangers. —Hunter Delauder, AJC.com, 7 June 2026

Rice and his supporters need to find them and persuade them to agree to sign a petition that requires them to disclose personal information to a stranger. —Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 6 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English straunger, straungier "foreigner, alien, unfamiliar person, outsider," borrowed from Anglo-French estranger, estraunger "outsider, foreigner, unfamiliar person" (as adjective) "not related by blood, foreign" (also continental Middle French estrangier), from estrange "foreign, strange entry 1" + -er, -ier -er entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stranger

• changer
• danger
• manger
• ranger
• arranger
• endanger
• exchanger

Kids Definition

stranger

noun

strang·​er

ˈstrān-jər

1

: one who is strange

2

a

: foreigner

b

: guest sense 1, visitor

c

: a person with whom or a thing with which one is unacquainted

Legal Definition

stranger

noun

strang·​er

: someone who is not a party or in privity with a party (as to a contract or legal action)

may be enforced against a stranger to the contract