miscellaneous

UK: /ˌmɪsəˈleɪniəs/ US: /ˌmɪsəˈleɪniəs/ ,(mis′ə lā′nē əs)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

mis•cel•la•ne•ous /ˌmɪsəˈleɪniəs/   adj. 

1. made up of parts of different kinds;
   of or having mixed character, kinds, etc.:
   The party attracted a miscellaneous group of people.

See -misc-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mis•cel•la•ne•ous  (mis′ə lā′nē əs), adj. 

1. consisting of members or elements of different kinds;
   of mixed character:
   a book of miscellaneous essays on American history.
2. having various qualities, aspects, or subjects:
   a miscellaneous discussion.

• Latin miscellāneus mixed, of all sorts, equivalent. to miscell(us) mixed + -ān(us) -an + -eus -eous
• 1630–40

mis′cel•la′ne•ous•ly, adv. 
mis′cel•la′ne•ous•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. divers, varied, heterogeneous, diversified.
  Miscellaneous, indiscriminate, promiscuous refer to mixture and lack of order, and may imply lack of discernment or taste.
  Miscellaneous emphasizes the idea of the mixture of things of different kinds or natures:
  a miscellaneous assortment of furniture.
  Indiscriminate emphasizes lack of discrimination in choice (and consequent confusion):
  indiscriminate praise.
  Promiscuous is even stronger than indiscriminate in its emphasis of complete absence of discrimination:
  promiscuous in his friendships.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

miscellaneous / ˌmɪsəˈleɪnɪəs/ adjective

1. composed of or containing a variety of things; mixed; varied
2. having varied capabilities, sides, etc

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin miscellāneus, from miscellus mixed, from miscēre to mix

ˌmiscelˈlaneously adverb

ˌmiscelˈlaneousness noun