unusual

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

adjective

1. not usual, common, or ordinary; uncommon in amount or degree; exceptional:

   an unusual sound; an unusual hobby; an unusual response.

   Synonyms: odd, queer, curious, singular, strange, rare, remarkable, extraordinary

unusual

/ ʌnˈjuːʒʊəl /

adjective

1. out of the ordinary; uncommon; extraordinary

   an unusual design

Derived Forms

• unˈusualness, noun
• unˈusually, adverb

Other Words From

• un·usu·al·ly adverb
• un·usu·al·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unusual¹

First recorded in 1575–85; un- ¹ + usual

Example Sentences

These include "unusual secretiveness, particularly around devices, mobile phones, social media accounts".

From BBC

Piece By Piece, the new documentary about musician Pharrell Williams, is unusual in many respects - not least because it is entirely animated with Lego.

From BBC

Titan’s hull was also an unusual shape - cylindrical, rather than spherical.

From BBC

Joshua Oppenheimer, an Oscar nominee for his documentaries “The Act of Killing” and “The Look of Silence,” made the unusual choice to make his narrative feature debut an original musical.

From Los Angeles Times

The sighting was unusual because the beluga was so tame and they're rarely seen as far south.

From BBC

Related Words

• amazing
• astonishing
• awesome
• bizarre
• curious
• exceptional
• extraordinary
• incredible
• memorable
• noteworthy
• odd
• phenomenal
• rare
• remarkable
• significant
• singular
• special
• strange
• surprising
• uncommon