appendage
noun
ap·pend·age
ə-ˈpen-dij 
1
: an adjunct to something larger or more important : appurtenance
2
: a usually projecting part of an animal or plant body that is typically smaller and of less functional importance than the main part to which it is attached
especially
: a limb or analogous part (such as a seta)
3
[appendant]
: a dependent or subordinate person
Did you know?
The Root of Appendage
Appendix isn't the only noun that comes from append. Unlike appendix, appendage doesn't suggest the end of something, but simply something attached. The word is often used in biology to refer to parts of an animal's body: an insect's antennae, mouthparts, or wings, for example. The appendages of some animals will grow back after they've been removed; a salamander, for example, can regrow a finger, and the tiny sea squirt can regrow all its appendages—and even its brain.
Examples of appendage in a Sentence
The court system acts as an appendage to the government.
an appendage of a larger political party
Recent Examples on the Web
But the appendage already makes Pugsley quite expressive, especially when hanging out with his siblings.
—
Bailey Richards, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Apply ice: Wrap a cold pack in a cloth and place it on the affected area for 15 minutes every hour to help with swelling.
Elevate and compress: If your arm or leg is bleeding, raise the appendage above your heart and apply gentle pressure.
—Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 17 Mar. 2025
Over the millennia, these appendages evolved into specialized limbs seen in modern crustaceans and arachnids.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
The species earns its name from a tail-like appendage from the back of its body that is longer than the body itself, researchers said.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for appendage
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Bailey Richards, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Apply ice: Wrap a cold pack in a cloth and place it on the affected area for 15 minutes every hour to help with swelling.
Elevate and compress: If your arm or leg is bleeding, raise the appendage above your heart and apply gentle pressure.
—Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 17 Mar. 2025
Over the millennia, these appendages evolved into specialized limbs seen in modern crustaceans and arachnids.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
The species earns its name from a tail-like appendage from the back of its body that is longer than the body itself, researchers said.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for appendage
Cite this Entry
“Appendage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appendage. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
appendage
noun
ap·pend·age
ə-ˈpen-dij
1
: something attached to a larger or more important thing
2
: a projecting part (as an antenna) of an animal or plant body
especially
: an arm, leg, or similar part
Medical Definition
appendage
noun
ap·pend·age
ə-ˈpen-dij
: a subordinate or derivative body part
especially
: a limb or analogous part (as a seta)
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