Meaning & use
sundry
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Of several different kinds, and too varied or minor to list one by one.
Grammar: Only before a noun, usually plural: sundry items.
Patterns
- sundry items
- sundry matters
The drawer was full of sundry odds and ends.
He paid the bill, plus sundry expenses.
The meeting dealt with sundry matters of no great importance.
phraseidiominformal
In all and sundry, everyone without exception, whoever they are.
Grammar: Fixed phrase meaning everybody: told all and sundry.
Patterns
- all and sundry
He told all and sundry about his lottery win.
The park is open to all and sundry.
Invitations were sent to all and sundry in the neighborhood.
Common combinations
- all and sundry
- She shared the good news with all and sundry.
- sundry items
- The shop sells sundry items such as batteries and tape.
- sundry expenses
- Sundry expenses were added to the final invoice.
- sundry goods
- The store stocked sundry goods for travelers.
- sundry tasks
- He spent the morning on sundry tasks around the house.
Synonyms and how they differ
- miscellaneous
- Miscellaneous is the common modern word for mixed varieties and sounds less dated than sundry.
- assorted
- Assorted suggests a deliberately chosen mix, like assorted chocolates, rather than leftover minor things.
- various
- Various simply means different kinds and says nothing about their being minor.
- diverse
- Diverse emphasizes real variety and difference, often in a positive way, which sundry does not.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: sundry or sundae?
sundry vs sundae
A sundae is an ice cream dessert and sounds the same, so be careful to spell the adjective sundry.
Practice
The cashier added a small charge to cover ____ costs such as packing and postage.
Choose one answer.
Sundry means assorted minor items. Sundae is a dessert, sunny describes weather, and sundown is a time of day.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sundry”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.