uncharacteristic

adjective

un·​char·​ac·​ter·​is·​tic ˌən-ˌker-ik-tə-ˈri-stik 

-ˌka-rik-

: not characteristic : not typical or distinctive

uncharacteristic outbursts of temper

uncharacteristically

ˌən-ˌker-ik-tə-ˈri-sti-k(ə-)lē 

-ˌka-rik-

adverb

Examples of uncharacteristic in a Sentence

It was an uncharacteristic outburst of temper.

Her uncharacteristic silence bothered me.

Recent Examples on the Web

Seemingly moved by Seong-sin’s uncharacteristic display of mercy, Eun-jae decides to give Seong-sin her kidney. —Kayti Burt, Time, 13 Feb. 2026

An injury in 2018 and an uncharacteristic slip in 2022 kept them off the individual podium during the last two Olympics. —Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026

Although uncharacteristic mistakes landed her in third in that particular event, Glenn eventually won gold as part of Team USA when teammate Ilia Malinin's men's free skate pushed the American squad past Team Japan to clinch the top spot. —Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026

The Patriots won the AFC by surviving bad weather and their own uncharacteristic offensive woes. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for uncharacteristic

• deuteronomistic
• imperialistic
• materialistic
• nondeterministic
• nonrelativistic
• oligopolistic
• particularistic
• sociolinguistic
• universalistic
• agonistic
• altruistic
• animistic