DANGLING MODIFIER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does dangling modifier mean? 

• DANGLING MODIFIER (noun)
  The noun DANGLING MODIFIER has 1 sense:

1. a word or phrase apparently modifying an unintended word because of its placement in a sentence: e.g., 'when young' in 'when young, circuses appeal to all of us'

  Familiarity information: DANGLING MODIFIER used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DANGLING MODIFIER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A word or phrase apparently modifying an unintended word because of its placement in a sentence: e.g., 'when young' in 'when young, circuses appeal to all of us'

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

dangling modifier; misplaced modifier

Hypernyms ("dangling modifier" is a kind of...):

modifier; qualifier (a content word that qualifies the meaning of a noun or verb)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dangling modifier"):

dangling participle (a participle (usually at the beginning of a sentence) apparently modifying a word other than the word intended: e.g., 'flying across the country' in 'flying across the country the Rockies came into view')