adventitious

American  

[ad-vuhn-tish-uhs] / ˌæd vənˈtɪʃ əs /

adjective

1. associated with something by chance rather than as an integral part; extrinsic.

2. Botany, Zoology. appearing in an abnormal or unusual position or place, as a root.

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adventitious British  

/ ˌædvɛnˈtɪʃəs /

adjective

1. added or appearing accidentally or unexpectedly

2. (of a plant or animal part) developing in an abnormal position, as a root that grows from a stem

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Other Word Forms

• adventitiously adverb
• adventitiousness noun
• nonadventitious adjective
• nonadventitiously adverb
• nonadventitiousness noun

Etymology

Origin of adventitious

1595–1605; < Latin adventīcius literally, coming from without, external, equivalent to ad- ad- + ven- (stem of venīre to come) + -t ( us ) past participle suffix + -īcius -itious

Explanation

Adventitious is a word you use to talk about things that "just kind of happen," not because you are trying to do them, but because they just come along. Christopher Columbus's stumbling upon the Caribbean while searching for a new route to India was adventitious. When you make an adventitious rhyme while speaking, you might hear, "You're a poet, you didn't know it, your long feet show it."

Example Sentences

Some plants, however, also have adventitious roots, which emerge above the ground from the shoot.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

This show was a feat from day one; Covid-19 made it an adventitious masterpiece, a taxidermied stage for all we have lost.

From New York Times • Dec. 4, 2020

A bud and adventitious root system form from the runner.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Foaming hawthorn and rhododendronHave colonised the field-edge, spreadingThrough copper beech and flowering chestnutAnd adventitious saplings.

From The Guardian • Jul. 9, 2010

Like strawberries, peach palm throws out adventitious shoots.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann