unusual

[ uhn-yoo-zhoo-uhl, -yoozh-wuhl ]

/ ʌnˈyu ʒu əl, -ˈyuʒ wəl /

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See synonyms for unusual on Thesaurus.com

adjective

not usual, common, or ordinary; uncommon in amount or degree; exceptional: an unusual sound; an unusual hobby; an unusual response.

SYNONYMS FOR unusual

extraordinary, remarkable; rare, strange, singular, curious, queer, odd.

See synonyms for unusual on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of unusual

First recorded in1575–85; un-¹ + usual

OTHER WORDS FROM unusual

un·u·su·al·ly, adverbun·u·su·al·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for unusual

Plants that were underappreciated or a little unusual are doing well with consumers.
Online plant sellers are having a moment. Here’s where to shop.|Lindsey Roberts|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
The books spelled out mathematical theorems from the ground up without skipping any steps — exhibiting an unusual degree of thoroughness among mathematicians.
Inside the Secret Math Society Known Simply as Nicolas Bourbaki|Kevin Hartnett|November 9, 2020|Quanta Magazine
For Smith to get a non-prosecution agreement for cooperation is very unusual.
A dodgy deal helped make him a billionaire. It worked, until now.|Peter Whoriskey, Yeganeh Torbati, Keith L. Alexander|November 9, 2020|Washington Post
She discovers that he has unusual electromagnetic powers that tend to run out of control whenever Eric's stress and anxiety ramp up—which, alas, is quite often, given his circumstances.
Mortal’s brooding take on Thor is the antithesis to Marvel’s incarnation|Jennifer Ouellette|November 9, 2020|Ars Technica

Those unusual circumstances created gaps in the evidence, leaving big questions in some scientists’ minds about whether the drug is effective.
FDA advisory panel declines to support a controversial Alzheimer’s treatment|Laura Sanders|November 6, 2020|Science News
Bartley spent the forenoon with Cheyenne, prowling about the old town, interested in its quaint unusualness.
Partners of Chance|Henry Herbert Knibbs
Conscious of the unusualness of the occasion, he boldly ignored the rules of decorum and etiquette.
Royal Highness|Thomas Mann
Perhaps it was the unusualness of my speaking with feeling that caused the tears to start in his eyes.
The Plum Tree|David Graham Phillips
They had never walked together before, of course; but they hardly thought of the unusualness.
The Other Girls|Mrs. A. D. T. Whitney
The elastic nature of the clasp-garter is self-demonstration of the unusualness of the abbreviation.
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe|Edgar Allan Poe

British Dictionary definitions for unusual

unusual

/ (ʌnˈjuːʒʊəl) /

adjective

out of the ordinary; uncommon; extraordinaryan unusual design

Derived forms of unusual

unusually, adverbunusualness, noun

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

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unusual

adjective

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Origin of unusual

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British Dictionary definitions for unusual

adjective

Derived forms of unusual

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

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WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

unusual

adjective

SYNONYMS FOR unusual

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Origin of unusual

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Words related to unusual

Example sentences from the Web for unusual

British Dictionary definitions for unusual

adjective

Derived forms of unusual