outlandish

adjective

out·​land·​ish ˌau̇t-ˈlan-dish 

1

: of or relating to another country : foreign

saw many outlandish animals at the zoo

2

a

: strikingly out of the ordinary : bizarre

an outlandish costume

Her book is filled with outlandish characters.

spun some outlandish tales

b

: exceeding proper or reasonable limits or standards

workers complain of outlandish hours

—Joan E. Rigdon

outlandish government specifications

3

: remote from civilization

no other young men foolish enough to offer to go to such an outlandish station

—Geog. Jour.

outlandishly adverb

outlandishness noun

Did you know?

For some, the grass isn’t necessarily greener on the other side of the fence—it may also be very, very strange. The side-eye that skeptical sorts cast toward visitors from parts yonder is embedded in the history of the ancient word outlandish. In Old English someone described as “outlandish” came from an outland, i.e., a foreign land. Within a few hundred years, outlandish had broadened in use to describe anything unfamiliar or strange. It’s now commonly applied to things—especially things people do, wear, or say—that are strikingly out of the ordinary, or even just too-too—that is, too far beyond reasonable or proper limits or standards. But lest you mistake us for equating outlandish with wrong or bad, heed the words of Tony Stark (as played by Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man) when addressing speculation that he is secretly a superhero: “That would be outlandish… and fantastic.”

Synonyms

• bizarre
• strange
• funny
• weird
• odd
• erratic
• peculiar
• curious
• remarkable
• crazy
• eccentric
• unusual

Choose the Right Synonym for outlandish

strange, singular, unique, peculiar, eccentric, erratic, odd, quaint, outlandish mean departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected.

strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

unique implies singularity and the fact of being without a known parallel.

a career unique in the annals of science

peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's First Lady

eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior.

the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

Examples of outlandish in a Sentence

She fills her books with outlandish characters.

The actress wore an outlandish dress to the awards ceremony.

Recent Examples on the Web

At the height of her transformational powers, Bartsch can seem almost otherworldly because of her outsized presence coupled with her outlandish fashion sense. —Nigel Smith, People.com, 23 June 2025

Advertisement This depiction of outlandish dealbreakers, while often raw and horrifying, does not stray too far from the realities of the current dating cultural climate. —Myisha Battle, Time, 20 June 2025

Williamson never lets his viewers suffer through unnecessary and long-drawn-out scenes, even when the show’s rapid speed makes specific scenarios feel overly outlandish. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 19 June 2025

Part of that connection stems from Bond himself, who is a much more animated character than Agent 47, who’s conversely a mostly emotionless fixture that’s juxtaposed (to comedic effect) with the outlandish luxury and violence around him. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for outlandish

• brandish

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

outlandish

adjective

out·​land·​ish (ˈ)au̇t-ˈlan-dish 

: of strange appearance or manner : bizarre

an outlandish costume

outlandishly adverb

outlandishness noun