unusual
adjective
un·usu·al
ˌən-ˈyü-zhə-wəl 
-zhəl;
-ˈyüzh-wəl
: not usual: as
a
: not normal or typical
It's unusual for him to work this late.
b
: different or strange in a way that attracts attention
an unusual design
d
: extraordinary sense 1, remarkable
a scholar of unusual ability
unusually
adverb
unusualness
noun
Examples of unusual in a Sentence
It's not unusual for him to stay late at work.
a scene of unusual beauty
She has an unusual name.
Recent Examples on the Web
In addition to the shipwreck, locals and meteorologists flooded social media with striking images of the temporary lakebed, highlighting the unusual effect of the winds across the lake.
—
Brandi D. Addison, Freep.com, 28 Nov. 2025
While there's no doubt My Secret Santa's concept is an unusual one, Breckenridge — who routinely makes viewers cry as soulful nurse Mel Monroe on Netflix's Virgin River — grounds the comedy with a true sense of pathos as Taylor struggles to ensure Zoey gets to follow her dreams.
—Sabienna Bowman, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
Officials said the number of bullets is unusual and remains unexplained.
—Caroline Linton, CBS News, 28 Nov. 2025
As the game draws near, Day revealed the Buckeyes made an unusual change before facing off against The Team Up North.
—Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unusual
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.
Brandi D. Addison, Freep.com, 28 Nov. 2025
While there's no doubt My Secret Santa's concept is an unusual one, Breckenridge — who routinely makes viewers cry as soulful nurse Mel Monroe on Netflix's Virgin River — grounds the comedy with a true sense of pathos as Taylor struggles to ensure Zoey gets to follow her dreams.
—Sabienna Bowman, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
Officials said the number of bullets is unusual and remains unexplained.
—Caroline Linton, CBS News, 28 Nov. 2025
As the game draws near, Day revealed the Buckeyes made an unusual change before facing off against The Team Up North.
—Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unusual
Cite this Entry
“Unusual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unusual. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unusual
adjective
un·usu·al
ˌən-ˈyüzh-(ə-)wəl
-ˈyü-zhəl
unusually
adverb
-ē
unusualness
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share