unusual
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unusual
Explanation
Something unusual is uncommon. It's odd, weird, or out of the ordinary in some way. Unusual is the opposite of usual, thanks to the prefix un, meaning "not." Unusual things are noteworthy: you don't see them every day. A dog chasing a squirrel is usual. A squirrel chasing a dog would be unusual. Unusual can mean strange and bizarre, or just things that are rare. If someone is always absent, showing up would be unusual. Most surprising things are unusual.
Vocabulary lists containing unusual
List 7
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Strange
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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 LinkedIn and Spotify party was pegged to a new album by Summit, a popular EDM DJ who provided an unusual way to connect electronic music and corporate life.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
The drafters understood what Intel’s lawyers are now arguing: that unusual strategies don’t always have a clean twin against which they can be measured.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
In a highly unusual move, the UK's internal security service had warned universities they may have unintentionally assisted China's espionage.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
The material contains an unusual sulfide-to-sulfide bond that temporarily breaks when exposed to light, producing highly reactive sulfur species.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 4, 2026
Raven-haired Kate’s best feature was her unusual gray-violet eyes.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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.
