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Synonyms

unorthodox

American  
[uhn-awr-thuh-doks] / ʌnˈɔr θəˌdɒks /

adjective

  1. not conforming to rules, traditions, or modes of conduct, as of a doctrine, religion, or philosophy; not orthodox.

    an unorthodox ideology.
unorthodox British  
/ ʌnˈɔːθəˌdɒks /

adjective

  1. not conventional in belief, behaviour, custom, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • unorthodoxly adverb

Etymology

Origin of unorthodox

un- 1 + orthodox

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.

With Liverpool's firmly in a back five at this point, the PSG attackers cleverly used unorthodox movements that made the game difficult for Van Dijk.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Both Fulham and Palace utilised unorthodox shapes and movement against Spurs to exploit their defensive approach.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

But new cutting-edge front offices are built to identify and exploit every possible avenue, he explained—no matter how unorthodox, or even embarrassing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

Backing up his preventive prescriptions are unorthodox theories on how these diseases develop in the first place.

From Slate • Feb. 26, 2026

He made no secret that he would continue his unorthodox habit of flying to Haiti as often as possible, spending half his time in Cange and half at the Brigham to meet his residency requirements.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

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.