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Synonyms

unusual

American  
[uhn-yoo-zhoo-uhl, -yoozh-wuhl] / ʌnˈyu ʒu əl, -ˈyuʒ wəl /

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 British  
/ ʌnˈjuːʒʊəl /

adjective

  1. out of the ordinary; uncommon; extraordinary

    an unusual design
"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

  • unusually adverb
  • unusualness noun

Etymology

Origin of unusual

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

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.

Blanche’s decision to personally interview Maxwell was highly unusual, given how high ranking he was in the Justice Department.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

I’ll just note that writer-director Kristoffer Borgli has misplaced hopes for the comic value of his unusual, even extreme, idea for how a single spoken sentence might endanger a relationship.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

She said it was unusual to find a letter on her desk and that it had unfortunately been opened and handled by several people before reaching her.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

The unusual insect caught the attention of an international team of researchers, who were struck by how different it looked from any known species.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

“Today shall be a day of rest and reflection,” our counselor said with unusual calmness.

From "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth

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.