unfamiliar

[ uhn-fuh-mil-yer ]

adjective

1. not familiar; not acquainted with or conversant about:

   to be unfamiliar with a subject.

2. different; unaccustomed; unusual; strange:

   an unfamiliar treat.

   Synonyms: new, novel, curious

unfamiliar

/ ˌʌnfəˈmɪljə; ˌʌnfəˌmɪlɪˈærɪtɪ /

adjective

1. not known or experienced; strange
2. postpositivefoll bywith not familiar

Derived Forms

• ˌunfaˈmiliarly, adverb
• unfamiliarity, noun

Other Words From

• un·fa·mil·i·ar·i·ty [uhn-f, uh, -mil-ee-, ar, -i-tee], noun
• unfa·miliar·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of unfamiliar¹

First recorded in 1585–95; un- ¹ + familiar

Example Sentences

They missed out here in early 2023 because of that all-timer in Wellington, then lost in India and Pakistan this year in unfamiliar Asian conditions.

From BBC

This is hardly a new or unfamiliar taxonomy, just as the taxonomy of which women will die this year as a result of a miscarriage is not new or unfamiliar.

From Slate

For those unfamiliar with The Inn at Little Washington, how would you describe its ethos?

From Salon

There are mitigating factors: unfamiliar conditions in Asia, an injured captain and a relentless grind from Hyderabad that will end in Hamilton.

From BBC

“So I kind of suppressed my artistic endeavors. I was playing dumb to hang out with the dummies. I became something unfamiliar to what I was supposed to be.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bizarre
• curious
• exotic
• foreign
• new
• obscure
• peculiar
• unaccustomed
• unexpected
• unexplored
• unknown
• unusual