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miscellaneous

miscellaneous

17 6.5
Something that contains different kinds of things like papers or tools
  • adjective
  • /ˌmɪsəˈleɪniəs/
translation icon : variado
  • She organized her workspace by separating the office supplies from the miscellaneous items that didn't have a designated place.
  • miscellaneous items
  • miscellaneous category
  • miscellaneous essays

And then let's just say there's miscellaneous fees.

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Examples

  • Revenue is minimal and is composed principally of sales of miscellaneous publications and grants.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Their back pockets bulge with notebooks, citation books, and bits of miscellaneous fluff.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The presence or absence of a total of 20 individual reasons and a miscellaneous category were recorded.

    Academic text (1993)
  • We have a bin of miscellaneous alpha cool stuff.

  • We need 424 feet... of good rope, plus another 50 feet, say, for miscellaneous.

  • There are often other miscellaneous charges on your bill, so weed out the actual surcharges.

    Academic text (1998)
  • We next include a set of miscellaneous variables, most of which are reflective of socioeconomic status.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Inside the door, in the dark, one booth was stacked high with miscellaneous gear: sweaters, hats, and gloves.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Reimbursement requests, such as for travel and miscellaneous expense reimbursements, require both the employee's and supervisor's signature.

    Academic text (1996)
  • I have file cabinets full of cases, articles, tomes, and miscellaneous amicus briefs on the topic.

    Academic text (1998)

Synonyms

various
vsmiscellaneous
1.0

Having many different kinds

is the general label for such a group of different items
varied
vsmiscellaneous
54 3.3

Containing many different kinds, not all the same

stays the general name for a collection of different items
assorted
vsmiscellaneous
25 3.7

Made of different kinds mixed together

is the general category name for such a grouped set
multifaceted
vsmiscellaneous
15 5.9

Having many different parts or sides

refers more generally to a group of different items
heterogeneous
vsmiscellaneous
9 7.9

Made of different types of people or things, like scientists and artists

is the everyday term for a collection of different kinds
motley
vsmiscellaneous
9 7.5

Made up of many different people or things that do not fit together

denotes a mix but without the sense of mismatch or oddness
sundry
vsmiscellaneous
8 7.0

A group of different small things

is the neutral term for items of many different kinds
multifarious
vsmiscellaneous
  • Formal
1 9.2

Having many different kinds or parts

is the simpler label for a group of different elements
diversified
vsmiscellaneous
1 4.7

Having many different kinds of things

focuses on the simple fact of containing different kinds
mixed
vsmiscellaneous
1 1.0

Made of different kinds of things, like roses and lilies

is a neutral term for a group made of different items
misc
vsmiscellaneous
1 6.3

Containing different kinds of things

is the full, standard expression for that same idea
many-sided
vsmiscellaneous
1 4.1

Having many different parts or qualities

is the plain name for a set with different elements
divers
vsmiscellaneous
  • Archaic
8.4

Several different kinds of people or things

is the broad descriptive name for that mixed collection
manyfold
vsmiscellaneous
  • Archaic
8.1

Having many different parts or types

emphasizes mixture but not necessarily great number or scale
heterogenic
vsmiscellaneous
8.0

A thing that has different kinds of parts

is the neutral label for things from different kinds
farraginous
vsmiscellaneous
  • Formal
9.9

Made of many different, unrelated things

simply names a group of differing items without implying disorder

Antonyms

92 3.7

Always the same in all parts and at all times

20 6.6

Made of people or things that are all the same

How Mixed

diverse
297 3.4
miscellaneous
17 6.5
varied
54 3.3
similar
1.0
uniform
92 3.7

Surface Forms

miscellaneous positive

Morphology

miscellaneous = miscellany (semi-transparent) = miscellany + ous

The adjective is formally derived by suffixation from 'miscellany' (meaning 'a mixture'), but the noun is somewhat less frequent and the stem is Latin-derived, so the relation may not be fully obvious to average learners.

Etymology

The word miscellaneous comes from the old Latin word miscere, which means 'to mix' and is the same idea as the English word mix. So something miscellaneous is made of many different, mixed things.