unfamiliar

adjective

un·​fa·​mil·​iar ˌən-fə-ˈmil-yər How to pronounce unfamiliar (audio)
: not familiar:
a
: not well-known : strange
an unfamiliar place
b
: not well acquainted
unfamiliar with the subject
unfamiliarity
ˌən-fə-ˌmil-ˈyer-ə-tē How to pronounce unfamiliar (audio)
-ˌmi-lē-ˈyer-
-ˈya-rə-
noun
unfamiliarly adverb

Examples of unfamiliar in a Sentence

He gets nervous when he is in unfamiliar surroundings. The book is full of unfamiliar words.
Recent Examples on the Web However, since these observers were often unfamiliar with classical texts that had previously described the aurora, these chroniclers used a greater variety of descriptive terms to refer to the same phenomenon, which in turn provides contemporary scientists with more clues about the aurora. Kim Beil, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 Avoid unfamiliar places and people, or situations that befuddle and leave you feeling vulnerable. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024 Conversely, the language of IT includes terms such as API (application programming interface), DevOps (development and operations) and SaaS (software as a service), which are vital to IT professionals but may be unfamiliar to business leaders. Barbara Wittmann, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 But for most of the men who overtook the Afghan capital, the city’s bright lights were unfamiliar, and Kabul posed a challenge full of seductions. Rick Noack, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2024 The nature of these threat actors isn’t unfamiliar. Samanth Subramanian, Quartz, 17 Feb. 2024 Adaptability: TBSs, in particular, can vary significantly in format and content, requiring candidates to adapt quickly and apply their knowledge in new and unfamiliar situations. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2024 Like many immigrants, Chida’s parents were unfamiliar with U.S. educational laws and procedures. Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2024 But a reading lesson that uses a Halloween story might require the cultural references to be translated to local equivalents because children in Mexico, France, or other countries may be unfamiliar with traditions like trick-or-treating or pumpkin carving. Sacramento Bee, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unfamiliar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unfamiliar was in 1594

Dictionary Entries Near unfamiliar

Cite this Entry

“Unfamiliar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfamiliar. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

unfamiliar

adjective
un·​fa·​mil·​iar ˌən-fə-ˈmil-yər How to pronounce unfamiliar (audio)
1
: not well-known : strange
an unfamiliar place
2
: not well acquainted
unfamiliar with the subject
unfamiliarity
-ˌmil-ˈyar-ət-ē How to pronounce unfamiliar (audio)
-ˌmil-ē-ˈ(y)ar-
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unfamiliar

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