# stranger

/ˈstɹeɪndʒɝ/ (US) · /stɹˈeɪndʒɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stranger
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. unknown person

noun · CEFR B1

someone you do not know and have never met before.

For teachers: a person with whom one is not acquainted or familiar.

- My parents always told me not to talk to strangers in the park.
- The child had been taught to seek help from a shopkeeper or police officer rather than following a stranger into the street.

### 2. newcomer

noun · CEFR B1

someone who is in a place for the first time and does not know the area or the people.

For teachers: a person who is new to a particular locality, community, or organisation.

- I am a stranger in this city, so I need to use a map to find my way.
- As a stranger to the customs of the high court, the young clerk felt overwhelmed by the complex protocols of the morning session.

### 4. legal third party

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

someone who is not involved in a legal agreement or contract.

For teachers: a person who is not a party to a particular legal act, contract, or title.

- The contract does not give any rights to a stranger to the agreement.
- The court ruled that a stranger to the deed could not claim damages for a breach of its specific covenants.

## Examples

- I do not like talking to a stranger on the street.
- The child was taught never to accept candy or rides from a stranger.
- Moving to a new city can be isolating at first, as every face in the crowd belongs to a stranger and no one knows your name.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.