ad·junct
ˈa-ˌjəŋ(k)t 
1
: something joined or added to another thing but not essentially a part of it
The website is designed as an adjunct to the book.
2
grammar
a
: a word or word group that qualifies or completes the meaning of another word or other words and is not itself a main structural element in its sentence
b
: an adverb or adverbial phrase (such as heartily in "They ate heartily" or at noon in "We left at noon") attached to the verb of a clause especially to express a relation of time, place, frequency, degree, or manner compare disjunct sense 2
3
a
: an associate or assistant of another
b
: an adjunct faculty member at a college or university (see adjunct entry 2 sense 2)
4
1
: added or joined as an accompanying object or circumstance
2
: attached in a subordinate or temporary capacity to a staff
an adjunct professor
Did you know?
Breaking Down Adjunct
With its prefix, ad-, meaning "to or toward", adjunct implies that one thing is "joined to" another. A car wash may be operated as an adjunct to a gas station. An adjunct professor is one who's attached to the college without being a full member of the salaried faculty. And anyone trying to expand his or her vocabulary will find that daily reading of a newspaper is a worthwhile adjunct to actual vocabulary study.
Examples of adjunct in a Sentence
Noun
Because Joseph Ellis has been an outspoken critic of social and women's history, he appears a peculiar choice to write the foreword, despite his many publications on the Revolutionary era. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, he treats Abigail here more as her husband's adjunct and supporter than as her own woman.
—
Anthony Lewis, New York Times Book Review, 4 Nov. 2007
As an adjunct to its basic educational role, the public library will increasingly serve as an access point to the resources of other libraries as well as to nonlibrary sources of publicly available information.
—Fred Lerner, The Story of Libraries, (1945) 1998
In A.D. 400 western Europe was merely a geographic expression. Roman civilization was centered on the Mediterranean, and France, England, and the Rhine valley were mere adjuncts of the Mediterranean world.
—Norman F. Cantor, The Civilization of the Middle Ages, 1993
Massage therapy can be used as an adjunct along with the medication.
In “They ate heartily,” the word heartily is an adjunct and in “We left at noon,” the phrase at noon is an adjunct.
Adjective
But it's Sainte-Marie's less-well-known life as a computer geek—and an adjunct professor of digital art, Native American studies, and philosophy at several universities—that brings her to midtown Manhattan today.
—Ophira Edut, Ms., August/September 1999
There is a terrible shortage of jobs in the universities, where, increasingly, men and women with Ph.D.s hang on to various forms of underpaid adjunct posts. Believe me, it happens at Harvard, too.
—Martin Peretz, New Republic, 5 July 1999
Using his chauffeur-driven car as an adjunct office, the designer shuttles among the design ateliers of his three major collections: the one that bears his name; Chanel, and, after a seven-year hiatus, Chloé.
—Carrie Donovan, New York Times Magazine, 11 Oct. 1992
massage therapy as an adjunct treatment
Anthony Lewis, New York Times Book Review, 4 Nov. 2007
As an adjunct to its basic educational role, the public library will increasingly serve as an access point to the resources of other libraries as well as to nonlibrary sources of publicly available information.
—Fred Lerner, The Story of Libraries, (1945) 1998
In A.D. 400 western Europe was merely a geographic expression. Roman civilization was centered on the Mediterranean, and France, England, and the Rhine valley were mere adjuncts of the Mediterranean world.
—Norman F. Cantor, The Civilization of the Middle Ages, 1993
Massage therapy can be used as an adjunct along with the medication.
In “They ate heartily,” the word heartily is an adjunct and in “We left at noon,” the phrase at noon is an adjunct.
Adjective
But it's Sainte-Marie's less-well-known life as a computer geek—and an adjunct professor of digital art, Native American studies, and philosophy at several universities—that brings her to midtown Manhattan today.
—Ophira Edut, Ms., August/September 1999
There is a terrible shortage of jobs in the universities, where, increasingly, men and women with Ph.D.s hang on to various forms of underpaid adjunct posts. Believe me, it happens at Harvard, too.
—Martin Peretz, New Republic, 5 July 1999
Using his chauffeur-driven car as an adjunct office, the designer shuttles among the design ateliers of his three major collections: the one that bears his name; Chanel, and, after a seven-year hiatus, Chloé.
—Carrie Donovan, New York Times Magazine, 11 Oct. 1992
massage therapy as an adjunct treatment
Recent Examples on the Web
New Atlas, 5 Oct. 2025
Liberty Counsel claims the university never hired a full-time professor, though, and began soliciting resumes for part-time adjuncts within months of Grossenbach's dismissal.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
Flay is a graduate of the University of Southern California and has served as an adjunct professor there.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adjunct
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Noun
Potential clinical uses included emergency stroke therapy, as an adjunct to rehabilitation, and as a neuroprotective agent, which may expand the treatment’s relevance to traumatic brain injury and cardiac arrest.
—New Atlas, 5 Oct. 2025
Liberty Counsel claims the university never hired a full-time professor, though, and began soliciting resumes for part-time adjuncts within months of Grossenbach's dismissal.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
This novel follows a sophomore seeking popularity and refuge in an elite sorority and an adjunct professor adjusting to new motherhood.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
Flay is a graduate of the University of Southern California and has served as an adjunct professor there.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adjunct
Cite this Entry
“Adjunct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adjunct. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
adjunct
1 of 2 noun
ad·junct
ˈaj-ˌəŋ(k)t
1
: a person associated with or assisting another in some duty or service
2
: adjuvant sense b
drugs used as short-term adjuncts in weight-loss programs
adjunct
2 of 2 adjective1
: added or joined as an accompanying object or circumstance
2
: attached in a subordinate or temporary capacity to a staff
an adjunct psychiatrist
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