unconventional

American  

[uhn-kuhn-ven-shuh-nl] / ˌʌn kənˈvɛn ʃə nl /

adjective

1. not conventional; not bound by or conforming to convention, rule, or precedent; free from conventionality.

   an unconventional artist; an unconventional use of material.

   Synonyms:

   atypical, idiosyncratic, individualistic, eccentric

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unconventional British  

/ ˌʌnkənˈvɛnʃənəl /

adjective

1. not conforming to accepted rules or standards

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Other Word Forms

• unconventionalist noun
• unconventionality noun
• unconventionally adverb

Etymology

Origin of unconventional

First recorded in 1830–40; un- ¹ + conventional

Example Sentences

“We have been the experts on counterinsurgency, on conventional and unconventional warfare, for the past 25 years. That is not the case in the Arctic,” said Ryan P. Burke, professor at the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

The reduction was driven largely by savings from efficiency gains, lower activity in U.S. unconventional oil and lower exploration spend, he added.

From Barron's

We have a peaceful, if somewhat unconventional, blended family.

From MarketWatch

Much of that growth came from unconventional drilling, including hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling from geologic formations such as shale rock.

From MarketWatch

As a young Klaebo experimented with this unconventional approach, his grandfather clocked him with a stopwatch.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• atypical
• bizarre
• eccentric
• idiosyncratic
• individualistic
• offbeat
• original
• unique
• unorthodox
• unusual