# stray

/ˈstɹeɪ/ (US) · /stɹˈeɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stray
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to wander away

verb · CEFR B2

to move away from a group or a path where you are supposed to be.

For teachers: to wander from a direct course, a group, or a designated area. Intransitive; often takes the preposition 'from'.

- The hikers were told not to stray from the marked trail in the forest.
- Several sheep managed to stray from the flock during the storm, forcing the farmer to search the hills until dusk.

### 2. to lose focus

verb · CEFR B2

to start thinking or talking about something different from the main subject.

For teachers: to deviate from a subject of discussion or a line of thought.

- The teacher asked the students not to stray from the topic of the essay.
- While the keynote speaker was engaging, he tended to stray into personal anecdotes that had little to do with the conference theme.

### 3. homeless animal

noun · CEFR B2

a pet or domestic animal that is lost or has no home.

For teachers: a domestic animal that is wandering at large or is lost, lacking an owner or enclosure.

- They found a stray cat shivering under their car and took it to the shelter.
- The local animal rescue centre is currently overwhelmed with strays brought in after the summer holidays.

### 4. casual insult

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

an insult or criticism directed at someone who was not the original target.

For teachers: a casual or offhand insult, often one that hits a person who was not the primary subject of a conflict.

- I was just sitting there minding my own business and I caught a stray.
- The comedian's rant was mostly about the government, but several celebrities caught strays during the performance.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'to catch a stray'.

### 5. misplaced or alone

adjective · CEFR B2

found in the wrong place or separated from a group.

For teachers: occurring in isolation or found away from the proper or expected place.

- She brushed a few stray hairs away from her face before the photo.
- The researcher noted a few stray data points that did not fit the overall trend of the experiment.

## Examples

- The local shelter took in a stray yesterday.
- After the storm, several strays were found wandering near the park looking for food and warmth.
- While some people assume every stray is feral, many are simply lost pets that would benefit from a microchip scan to identify their original owners.

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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.