strays: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to slightly informal in literal use; can be formal in technical contexts (e.g., electrical engineering).
Quick answer
What does “strays” mean?
Domestic animals that have wandered away from their home or owner.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Domestic animals that have wandered away from their home or owner; persons or things that have become separated from a main group.
Used figuratively to describe thoughts, sounds, or individuals that deviate from the norm or intended path; can also refer to random or miscellaneous items.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The verb form might be slightly more common in American English for metaphorical use (e.g., 'His mind strays').
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. Often carries connotations of vulnerability (animals), neglect, or unwanted deviation.
Frequency
Comparatively low frequency in both, with the noun form being more common than the verb form.
Grammar
How to Use “strays” in a Sentence
NP ~ (from NP)~ into NP (area/topic)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “strays” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He never strays far from his village.
- The report occasionally strays into unnecessary detail.
American English
- She never strays from her diet.
- The politician's speech strayed off topic.
adjective
British English
- A stray cat has been coming into our garden.
- He was hit by a stray piece of shrapnel.
American English
- We took in a stray dog last winter.
- A stray bullet hit the building.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in logistics: 'The shipment included a few strays from another order.'
Academic
In sociology/urban studies: 'Policies for managing urban stray populations.' In engineering: 'Minimising stray capacitance in the circuit.'
Everyday
Most common: discussing lost pets or wandering attention. 'The shelter is full of strays.' 'My gaze strayed to the window.'
Technical
Electrical engineering: 'stray currents' or 'stray fields'. Photography: 'stray light' causing lens flare.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “strays”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “strays”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “strays”
- Using 'stray' as a plural countable noun without 's' (e.g., 'three stray' is incorrect; must be 'three strays'). Confusing the noun plural with the verb form ('The dog strays' vs. 'We found three strays').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while most common for animals, it can refer to people who have left a group or things that are lost/misplaced (e.g., 'a few strays from the dataset').
A 'stray' is a domestic animal that is lost or abandoned but may have been socialised. A 'feral' animal is one that has lived its life with little human contact and is often wild.
It's less common but possible in a metaphorical sense, e.g., 'Her hand strayed to her necklace' (moved aimlessly).
No, the pronunciation for the plural noun and the third-person singular verb form is identical: /streɪz/.
Domestic animals that have wandered away from their home or owner.
Strays is usually neutral to slightly informal in literal use; can be formal in technical contexts (e.g., electrical engineering). in register.
Strays: in British English it is pronounced /streɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /streɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “stray from the straight and narrow”
- “stray into enemy territory”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of STRAYS as animals that have STRAYed from their home. The word 'stray' is within 'strays'.
Conceptual Metaphor
ATTENTION/ORDER IS A CONTAINED PATH; straying is leaving that path. MORALITY IS A STRAIGHT PATH; to stray is to deviate from it.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'strays' used correctly?