Adjunct is a word for something added to another thing, often as a secondaryless important; coming after the main thing or supportinghelping or assisting another part or person part. It can also describe something or someone that is subordinatelower in rank or less important than something else or supporting, depending on the sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈædʒʌŋkt/
Easy pronunciation: AD-junkt (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress is on the first syllable.
Noun sense: something added to another thing but not an essential part of it.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Adjunct Meaning
an extra part or addition that is not the main thing
Part of speech: noun
Definition: something added to another thing but not an essential part of it
Example: The garden room was built as an adjunct to the main house.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- accessory — Works well in the sense of something added but not essential.
- ancillary — Can work in formal contexts for something secondary or supporting.
- auxiliary — Can mean supporting or additional, though it is often more formal or technical.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Adjunct
Meaning 2
adding support or help
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: furnishing added support
Example: The fund provides adjunct support for local programs.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- accessory — Can fit in the sense of additional support, but is less direct here.
- adjuvant — A good match in formal or technical use, especially for added support.
- ancillary — Works for something that provides support in a secondary role.
- appurtenant — Can mean attached or associated, but is less common and more legal/formal.
- auxiliary — A strong match for something supporting or helping another thing.
Meaning 3
describing someone who works under another person
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: of or relating to a person who is subordinate to another
Example: She held an adjunct role in the department before becoming a full professor.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- assistant — Works as a general substitute for subordinate or supporting in this sense.
Meaning 4
a phrase or structure that adds extra information to a sentence
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a construction that can be used to extend the meaning of a word or phrase but is not one of the main constituents of a sentence
Example: In grammar, an adjunct can add time, place, or manner information.
Meaning 5
an assistant or helper in a lower position
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a person who is an assistant or subordinate to another
Example: He served as an adjunct to the team leader during the project.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- assistant — A direct and natural synonym for a subordinate helper.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Adjunct Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- accessory
- ancillary
- auxiliary
furnishing added support
- adjuvant
- appurtenant
a person who is an assistant or subordinate to another
- assistant
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse adjunct with adjacent. Adjunct means something added or supporting; adjacent means next to something.
- In grammar, adjunct is not the same as a subject or main clause element; it is extra information.
- As a noun, adjunct usually means an added part or a helper, not something essential.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does adjunct mean?
Adjunct usually means something added to a main thing without being essential, or something that supports or assists another thing.
What is an adjunct in grammar?
In grammar, an adjunct is an extra part of a sentence that adds information such as time, place, or manner.
What are some synonyms for adjunct?
Common synonyms include accessory, ancillary, auxiliary, and assistant, but the best choice depends on the sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
