unlike
Americanadjective
preposition
-
dissimilar to; different from.
She is unlike my sister in many ways.
-
not typical or characteristic of.
It is unlike her to enjoy herself so much.
noun
adjective
-
not alike; dissimilar or unequal; different
-
archaic unlikely
preposition
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unlike
First recorded in 1150–1200, unlike is from the Middle English word unlik. See un- 1, like 1
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.
The observations revealed a chemical makeup unlike anything previously identified among bodies in the outer solar system.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 2026
Still, a visit to Meyers’ sleek apartment, admittedly paid for by his parents, confirms for Ed the kind of youthful privilege at play here, so unlike the scrappier downtown bohemia of his own artistic heyday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
Sivanandan first found chess during the 2020 lockdowns, but unlike the adults who were swept up that year through the mega-popular show “The Queen’s Gambit,” she stumbled into the game by accident.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
However, unlike the index, it can be as much as 15% allocated to stocks in emerging markets.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
I even feel happy as I imagine setting foot in a new city and having adventures unlike anything I’ve experienced.
From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar
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.
