appendage
en
en
Change language
Translating...
/əˈpendɪdʒ/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
A secondary part attached to a larger whole, ranging from a formal or figurative addition to a projecting biological structure.
Examples
She refused to be treated as her partner's appendage.
Critics dismissed the committee as a powerless appendage of the ministry.
The salamander can regrow a lost appendage.
The glass lobby looks like an awkward appendage to the old theater.
Each jointed appendage ends in a small claw.
Similar words
addition
extremity
outgrowth
limb
projection
attachment
adjunct
accessory
Meanings
Examples
The glass lobby looks like an awkward appendage to the old theater.
Critics dismissed the committee as a powerless appendage of the ministry.
She refused to be treated as her partner's appendage.
The storage shed began as a modest appendage to the workshop.
The local office became little more than an appendage of headquarters.
Similar words
adjunct
attachment
addition
accessory
Examples
The insect uses its delicate appendages to sense movement.
Each jointed appendage ends in a small claw.
The salamander can regrow a lost appendage.
Leaflike appendages help the animal blend into seaweed.
The specimen has a pair of feeding appendages beside its mouth.
Similar words
limb
extremity
outgrowth
projection
Etymology
Formed in the seventeenth century from append, meaning to attach or add, and the noun-forming suffix -age.
FAQ
What does appendage mean?
An appendage is a secondary part attached to something larger, or a projecting structure on an animal or plant.
Can appendage mean a body part?
Yes. In biology, an appendage can be a limb, wing, antenna, tentacle, or another projecting structure.
Can a person be called an appendage?
Yes, but the formal figurative use suggests that the person is treated as dependent or unimportant rather than independent.
How is appendage different from appendix?
An appendage is broadly something attached, while an appendix is the organ or a supplementary section at the end of a document.
Where does appendage come from?
Appendage was formed from append, meaning to attach or add, and the suffix -age.
Comments & contributions
Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.