Word Of The Day

adventitious

adventitious • \ad-ven-TISH-us\  • adjective
Adventitious is a formal word that most often describes something that comes from an outside source, and is neither inherent or innate. In botanical contexts especially, the word also describes something that arises or occurs sporadically, or not in the usual or expected location.

// The house is like a museum—beautifully restored, full of period pieces, and with no adventitious elements in view.

// The bumps growing along the stem of the tomato plants are adventitious roots.

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Examples:
“Although individual [creosote bush] plants have a lifespan of 30-90 years, adventitious shoots grow up from roots. These develop into new plants, clones of the original, that form a ring around the spot where the original plant stood.” — Joshua Siskin, The Orange County (California) Register, 5 July 2025

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