Auxiliary — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ȯg-ˈzil-yə-rē/ aux·il·ia·ry

Meaning & Definition of Auxiliary

Auxiliary (adjective)

  1. offering or providing help
  2. functioning in a subsidiary capacity
  3. accompanying another verb and typically expressing person, number, mood, or tense

Auxiliary (noun)

  1. an auxiliary person, group, or device; specifically, a member of a foreign force serving a nation at war
  2. a Roman Catholic titular bishop assisting a diocesan bishop and not having the right of succession
  3. a sailing boat or ship equipped with a supplementary inboard engine

Auxiliary (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. available to supply something extra when needed

    "the auditorium has an auxiliary cooling system used only on particularly sweltering days"

    similar: accessorial, accessory, appurtenant, peripheral, supplemental, supplementary
    related: backup, makeshift, substitute, added, additional, another, further, complementary, contributory, adjuvant, assistant, assisting, helping, supportive, tributary, secondary, subordinate, subservient, subsidiary, dispensable, excess, nonessential, superfluous, surplus, unessential
    opposite: chief, main, principal
    near: basic, fundamental, primary, prime, all-important, essential, imperative, indispensable, integral, necessary, needed, needful, required, requisite, vital

Auxiliary (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in subordinate, underling

    similar: legman, subordinate, underling, attendant, handmaiden, maid, maidservant, scullion, servant, employee, hand, help, hireling, laborer, swamper, worker, adjunct, adjutant, aid, aide, apprentice, assistant, coadjutor, deputy, helper, helpmate, helpmeet, lieutenant, mate, sidekick, gal Friday, girl Friday, man Friday, right hand, aide-de-camp

  2. as in lifeboat, cutter

    similar: bumboat, cutter, jolly boat, launch, lifeboat, longboat, tender, yawl, houseboat, riverboat, barge, hoy, keel, keelboat, lighter, narrow boat (British), cruiser, inboard, motorboat, outboard, powerboat, towboat, tug, tugboat, bateau, caïque, canoe, catamaran, coracle, curragh, dhow, dinghy, dink, dory, dugout, flatboat, garvey, gig, johnboat, kayak, outrigger, paddleboat, pinnace, piragua, pirogue, pontoon, pram, punt, raft, rowboat, rowing boat (chiefly British), sampan, scow, scull, shallop, shell, skiff, surfboat, umiak, wherry, ferry, ferryboat, gondola, taxi, water taxi, catboat, ketch, sailboat, schooner, yacht, banker, coble, dragger, gillnetter, hooker, lugger, scalloper, seiner, shrimper, trawler, whaleboat, whaler, workboat, boat, bottom, craft, vessel, watercraft

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Auxiliary

The most common words with a similar meaning to Auxiliary:

British: narrow boat
Chiefly British: rowing boat
accessorial, accessory, appurtenant, peripheral, supplemental, supplementary, legman, subordinate, underling, attendant, handmaiden, maid, maidservant, scullion, servant, employee, hand, help, hireling, laborer, swamper, worker, adjunct, adjutant, aid, aide, apprentice, assistant, coadjutor, deputy, helper, helpmate, helpmeet, lieutenant, mate, sidekick, gal Friday, girl Friday, man Friday, right hand

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Auxiliary

Words with the opposite meaning of Auxiliary:

chief, main, principal

Related Words for Auxiliary

backup, makeshift, substitute, added, additional, another, further, complementary, contributory, adjuvant, assisting, helping, supportive, tributary, secondary, subservient, subsidiary, dispensable, excess, nonessential, superfluous, surplus, unessential

Near Antonyms of Auxiliary

basic, fundamental, primary, prime, all-important, essential, imperative, indispensable, integral, necessary, needed, needful, required, requisite, vital

Word Forms of Auxiliary

Inflections: auxiliaries

Origin & Etymology of Auxiliary

Middle English, "(of a Roman soldier) not belonging to a regular legion," borrowed from Latin auxiliārius "giving aid, (of troops) supplementing the regular army," from auxilium "assistance, aid, supporting force, reinforcement" (derivative from the base of augēre "to increase") + -ārius -ary:1 eke:2

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Auxiliary

Words & Phrases Containing Auxiliary

modal auxiliary, verbal auxiliary, modal auxiliary verb

Frequently Asked Questions about Auxiliary

What does "Auxiliary" mean?

"Auxiliary" means offering or providing help. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: offering or providing help. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Auxiliary"?

Other words for "Auxiliary" include accessorial, accessory, appurtenant, peripheral, supplemental, supplementary, legman and subordinate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Auxiliary" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Auxiliary"?

There are 152 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Auxiliary". Common alternatives include accessorial, accessory, appurtenant, peripheral, supplemental, supplementary, legman, subordinate, underling and attendant.

What is the opposite of "Auxiliary"?

Antonyms of "Auxiliary" include chief, main and principal. Near antonyms include basic, fundamental, primary and prime.

How do you use "Auxiliary" in a sentence?

Examples of "Auxiliary" in a sentence: "the auditorium has an auxiliary cooling system used only on particularly sweltering days".

Is "Auxiliary" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Auxiliary" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Auxiliary" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Auxiliary" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Auxiliary"?

"Auxiliary" is pronounced /ȯg-ˈzil-yə-rē/ and divided into syllables as aux·il·ia·ry.