Stranger: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to refer to someone you do not know, often in casual or informal conversations.

• Don't talk to strangers on the internet.
• A stranger asked me for directions on the street.

Used to describe someone from another country, often in discussions about nationality or cultural background.

• He felt like a foreigner during his visit to Japan.
• The town welcomes many foreigners each year.

Used to describe something or someone that is not known or identified. Often used in formal or mysterious contexts.

• The source of the noise is still unknown.
• He ventured into the unknown parts of the forest.

Used to describe someone who is not part of a particular group, community, or social circle. It can sometimes have a negative connotation.

• She felt like an outsider at the party where she didn't know anyone.
• As an outsider, it was hard for him to understand their traditions.

A person whom you do not know or who is unknown to you.

• Never share personal information with a stranger.
• There's a stranger standing outside our house.

Something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain.

• The disappearance of the ship remains a mystery.
• She was reading a book full of mysteries.

A person who enters a place without permission, often with a negative or malicious intent.

• An intruder was caught breaking into the house.
• Security systems help to protect against intruders.

A person who visits your home, event, or place, often invited.

• We are expecting guests for dinner.
• The hotel staff were very hospitable to all the guests.

Use in general contexts to describe someone you do not know at all.

• I walked into a room full of strangers.
• Never take candy from a stranger.

Use to describe someone you know through the internet but have minimal interaction with, like someone you follow but don't talk to often.

• He's just an online acquaintance; we occasionally like each other's posts.
• I met him in a forum years ago, but we're just online acquaintances.

Use to describe someone you've had meaningful and positive interactions with online, but have not met in person.

• I've never met her, but she's my digital friend and we chat every day.
• My digital friends are scattered all over the world.

Use to emphasize the distant or impersonal nature of your online 'relationships,' or when the connection is even less than an online acquaintance.

• She is a virtual stranger, I only see her online sometimes.
• Even though we share the same group, he's a virtual stranger to me.