strange
Americanadjective
-
stranger,
comparative
-
strangest
superlative
-
unusual, extraordinary, or curious; odd; queer.
a strange remark to make.
-
estranged, alienated, etc., as a result of being out of one's natural environment.
I felt strange as I walked through the crowded marketplace.
-
situated, belonging, or coming from outside of one's own locality; foreign.
to move to a strange place; strange religions.
-
outside of one's previous experience; hitherto unknown; unfamiliar.
strange faces; strange customs.
- Antonyms:
- familiar
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unaccustomed to or inexperienced in; unacquainted (usually followed byto ).
I'm strange to this part of the job.
- Antonyms:
- familiar
-
distant or reserved; shy.
- Synonyms:
- aloof
- Antonyms:
- familiar
adverb
adjective
-
odd, unusual, or extraordinary in appearance, effect, manner, etc; peculiar
-
not known, seen, or experienced before; unfamiliar
a strange land
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not easily explained
a strange phenomenon
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(usually foll by to) inexperienced (in) or unaccustomed (to)
strange to a task
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not of one's own kind, locality, etc; alien; foreign
-
shy; distant; reserved
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it is unusual or surprising that
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physics
-
denoting a particular flavour of quark
-
denoting or relating to a hypothetical form of matter composed of such quarks
strange matter
a strange star
-
adverb
Synonym Usage
Strange, peculiar, odd, queer refer to that which is out of the ordinary. Strange implies that the thing or its cause is unknown or unexplained; it is unfamiliar and unusual: a strange expression. That which is peculiar mystifies, or exhibits qualities not shared by others: peculiar behavior. That which is odd is irregular or unconventional, and sometimes approaches the bizarre: an odd custom. Queer sometimes adds to odd the suggestion of something abnormal and eccentric: queer in the head.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of strange
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French estrange, from Latin extrāneus; see extraneous
Explanation
Anything that is unusual or out of the ordinary can be described as strange, like the strange sight of an ice cream truck pulling up in front of your school and your principal skipping over to it. The adjective strange comes from Latin word extraneus, meaning “foreign” or “external.” If someone approaches you speaking with a strange accent, it means you can't identify where the person is from, not that he or she is odd or weird — the newer meaning of strange. But remember, it once was a strange sight to see a person talking on a cell phone; when the unknown becomes known, it is no longer strange.
Vocabulary lists containing strange
Uncanny, Creepy, or Downright Scary: Words For Halloween
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Growing Together" and "When I Grow Up"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Song: Go and catch a falling star" by John Donne
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
These strange laws of existence provide the framework for Ullom’s excellent social observations, zeroing in on each character’s relationship to this new world and comparing it to the old one.
From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026
Whenever I cover a pro game, strange things happen.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026
Actress Michelle Rodriguez, who once hosted the World Music Awards with Panettiere, said this week that the number of child actors who had passed away at a young age was strange.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
Instagram did something bold and brave this week: It unveiled a new wordmark for the first time, stepping away from its signature cursive to a new and strange part-modern, part-script font.
From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026
That was when Wolf noticed that one of Tall Tailless’s forepaws held something that was giving off a strange glow.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Henry, who has lived in Belfast for a year after leaving his home in Nigeria, remembers the night as "all of a sudden you're getting a hint that you're a stranger".
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
D’Amaro is no stranger to the D23 stage; in his past role as parks chief, he would give updates on the latest news for the experiences division.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
Zuckerberg is no stranger to the long-winded essay format.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
A strange trip, but perhaps no stranger than living atop a pillar for 36 years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
I didn’t have anything like that for my scroll—for obvious anonymous reasons—but the idea of just...telling a stranger about this huge part of you?
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
Some reports focused on the strangest claims by Arday of his personal achievements, including that he ran 30 marathons in 35 days, some partly with a fracture in his leg.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
Rhiannon Quinche, from Tunbridge Wells, said it was "amazing" and the "strangest thing ever".
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Even the strangest of things happen for a reason, like when a life-size Celine Dion cutout goes missing and later reappears.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Besides being the largest planet-forming disk ever identified, scientists say it may also be one of the strangest.
From Science Daily ● May 12, 2026
It was the strangest thing, how happiness came out of nowhere and inflated your soul.
From "Raymie Nightingale" by Kate DiCamillo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
