unorthodox

adjective

un·​or·​tho·​dox ˌən-ˈȯr-thə-ˌdäks How to pronounce unorthodox (audio)
: not orthodox
unorthodoxly adverb

Examples of unorthodox in a Sentence

a time when people with unorthodox religious views were banished from the colony raised by an aunt, whose unorthodox parenting practices made for a strange but fun childhood
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Trump’s attempts to strongarm private companies such as tech giants, a string of law firms, and media companies, as well as pressuring higher education institutions, have created an unorthodox playbook that misaligns with conservatives’ traditional fears of government overreach. Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 10 Sep. 2025 Of all the ways to find love, Instagram Live is one of the more unorthodox methods. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 10 Sep. 2025 Mercifully, the gaijin of it all isn’t used to poke fun at Japanese customs, or to raise an eyebrow at the country’s unorthodox solution to the social crisis at hand. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025 The film follows a recovering addict in an isolated Serbian monastery whose Orthodox patriarch employs unorthodox methods that are often more extreme than effective at getting results. Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unorthodox

Word History

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unorthodox was in 1629

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Cite this Entry

“Unorthodox.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unorthodox. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

unorthodox

adjective
un·​or·​tho·​dox ˌən-ˈȯr-thə-ˌdäks How to pronounce unorthodox (audio)
ˈən-
: not orthodox : not usual
an unorthodox teaching method

More from Merriam-Webster on unorthodox

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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