unprecedented

[uhn-pres-i-den-tid]

adjective

1. without previous instance; never before known or experienced; unexampled or unparalleled.

   an unprecedented event.

   Synonyms: novel, exceptional, extraordinary, unique

unprecedented

/ ʌnˈprɛsɪˌdɛntɪd /

adjective

1. having no precedent; unparalleled

Other Word Forms

• unprecedentedly adverb
• unprecedentedness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unprecedented¹

First recorded in 1615–25; un- ¹ + precedent + -ed ²

Example Sentences

The country's most successful political party, when it comes to winning elections, finds itself in a position as dire as it is unprecedented.

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Consumer guide Which? said the growing use of AI tools was making it possible for fraudsters to mislead the public on an "unprecedented" scale.

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Israel denies the charge, even as it faces unprecedented levels of opprobrium.

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Sure, al-Jasser died as part of what Human Rights Watch and the Middle East Democracy Center characterize as “an unprecedented surge in executions in 2025 without apparent due process.”

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"He has been able to build an unprecedented network of organisations," Jason Knauf, the new CEO of the Earthshot Prize, said.

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Related Words

• bizarre 
• extraordinary 
• fantastic 
• miraculous 
• new 
• remarkable 
• singular 
• uncommon 
• unheard-of 
• unique 
• unparalleled 
• unrivaled 
• unusual