comparative form of strange: more strange
Understanding stranger
(Noun) A person whom one does not know; a person who is neither a friend nor an acquaintance.
• An outsider or foreigner.
• One not admitted to communion or fellowship.
• A newcomer.
• Used ironically to refer to a person who the speaker knows.
• One not belonging to the family or household; a guest; a visitor.
• One not privy or party to an act, contract, or title; a mere intruder or intermeddler; one who interferes without right.
• A superstitious premonition of the coming of a visitor by a bit of stalk in a cup of tea, the guttering of a candle, etc.
• A moth, Lacanobia blenna
(Verb) To estrange; to alienate.
How stranger affects you
stranger appears in U.S. legal practice across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations. For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to costly missteps.
The mechanics of stranger
In practice, stranger is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next. The definition shown above is sourced from Wiktionary , which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice. Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for your specific case.