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

The couple manage to keep these two halves of their existence — so different in temperature and tempo — strictly separate, until an uncharacteristic accident throws them off balance. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026

Paul Skenes pitched another uncharacteristic outing Tuesday that ended with the National League’s reigning Cy Young Award winner departing after just five innings and 65 pitches in a 2-0 loss to the Miami Marlins. — Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026

The process not only ushered in uncharacteristic darkness, but unveiled the outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026

On Friday’s first night of competition in Phoenix, Rivera made an uncharacteristic mistake on the uneven bars, falling from the apparatus and scoring almost two points below her typical output. — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for uncharacteristic

• deuteronomistic
• imperialistic
• intuitionistic
• materialistic
• nondeterministic
• nonrelativistic
• oligopolistic
• particularistic
• sociolinguistic
• spiritualistic
• universalistic
• agonistic