Word
annex
Phoneticsan·nex, stress on the first syllable
/ˈæˌnɛks/
UK spelling · annexe
Definitions
01to take territory
C1 · Advanced Law Formal
v. to take control of another country's land and make it part of your own.
v. to incorporate a territory into the domain of a city, country, or state, often without the consent of the original owner.
“The larger country decided to annex the small island after the war ended.”
“The empire sought to annex the border provinces to secure its access to the northern trade routes and mineral deposits.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and usually describes actions taken by governments or military forces.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02extra building
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. an extra building that is joined to or used with a main building.
n. a subsidiary building or an extension added to a main structure to provide additional space.
“The school built a new annex to provide more space for the science labs.”
“The museum's modern annex houses the contemporary collection, providing a stark architectural contrast to the original nineteenth-century wing.”
03document appendix
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Formal · Academic
n. an extra part added to the end of a report, book, or contract.
n. an addition or appendix to a written document, such as a treaty, contract, or legislative bill.
“You can find the technical details in the annex at the back of the report.”
“The specific environmental regulations are detailed in the third annex of the international trade agreement.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“It annexed East Jerusalem in 1980, in a move not recognised by the vast majority of the international community.” “Their decision is a response to US tariffs and the president's comments about annexing their country.” Etymology
Borrowed from French annexe, from Latin annexus. More at Etymology 2.
From Middle English annexen, anexen, from Old French annexer (“to join”), from Medieval Latin annexāre, infinitive of annexō, frequentative of Latin annectō (“bind to”), from ad (“to”) + nectō (“tie, bind”). Compare the rare annect. Doublet of adnex.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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