What does "adjacent" mean?

1. (next to) describes two things that are next to each other or share a wall or border. 2. (related to) describes something that is not exactly the same as another thing, but is very similar or connected to it. 3. (geometry) the side of a right-angled triangle that is next to a specific angle.

How do you use "adjacent"?

often used with the preposition 'to'

adjacent

adj. · n.

US //əˈdʒeɪsənt// UK //ɐdʒˈeɪsənt// ad·ja·cent

1 next to (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

describes two things that are next to each other or share a wall or border.

lying near, close, or contiguous; sharing a common boundary or border.

Example

The two families lived in adjacent houses and shared a garden fence.

Example

The laboratory is located in the building adjacent to the main library, making it convenient for researchers to access physical archives.

Usage

often used with the preposition 'to'
- distant
- remote
2 related to (adj.)
C1 Advanced Informal

describes something that is not exactly the same as another thing, but is very similar or connected to it.

figuratively related to or suggestive of a particular quality or field without being a core part of it.

Example

He doesn't work in tech, but he has a tech-adjacent job in marketing.

Example

While her primary research is in sociology, she often explores psychology-adjacent themes regarding group behavior and identity.
- unrelated

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3 geometry (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Math

the side of a right-angled triangle that is next to a specific angle.

the side of a right triangle that is adjacent to a given acute angle and is not the hypotenuse.

Example

To find the cosine of the angle, you must divide the adjacent by the hypotenuse.

Example

The student struggled to identify the adjacent when the triangle was rotated, confusing it with the opposite side relative to the target angle.
- adjacent side
- opposite

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *(H)yeh₁- Proto-Italic *jakēō Latin iaceō Latin adiaceō Latin adiacēnsder. English adjacent Borrowed from Latin adiacēns, adiacentis, derivative of adiaceō (“to lie beside”); from ad (“to”) + iaceō (“to lie down”).