| noun | an animal that has strayed (especially a domestic animal) |
| verb | move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment “The gypsies roamed the woods” |
| verb | wander from a direct course or at random “The child strayed from the path and her parents lost sight of her” |
| verb | lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking “She always digresses when telling a story” |
| adjective | not close together in time “isolated instances of rebellion” |
| adjective | (of an animal) having no home or having wandered away from home “a stray calf” |
| stray | adjective | (of an animal) having no home or having wandered away from home |
| stray | verb | move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment |
| wanderer | noun | someone who leads a wandering unsettled life |
| wandering | noun | travelling about without any clear destination |
| stray | noun | an animal that has strayed (especially a domestic animal) |
| strayer | noun | someone who strays or falls behind |
| tramp | noun | a foot traveler; someone who goes on an extended walk (for pleasure) |
| roamer | noun | someone who leads a wandering unsettled life |
| ramble | noun | an aimless amble on a winding course |
| rambler | noun | a person who takes long walks in the country |
| roving | noun | travelling about without any clear destination |
| drifter | noun | a wanderer who has no established residence or visible means of support |
| drifting | noun | aimless wandering from place to place |
| vagabond | noun | a wanderer who has no established residence or visible means of support |
| vagabondage | noun | travelling about without any clear destination |
| errant | adjective | uncontrolled motion that is irregular or unpredictable |
| driftage | noun | the deviation (by a vessel or aircraft) from its intended course due to drifting |
| drift | noun | the gradual departure from an intended course due to external influences (as a ship or plane) |
| digressive | adjective | (of e.g. speech and writing) tending to depart from the main point or cover a wide range of subjects |
| digression | noun | a message that departs from the main subject |
| divagation | noun | a message that departs from the main subject |