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

That's not the case with Lowe, yet the Pirates showed a bit of uncharacteristic urgency by taking somewhat of a small gamble that Lowe can help elevate an offense that ranked near the bottom of the majors in nearly every significant statistical category last season. —CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025

In an uncharacteristic move, one of Miami’s most private celebrity couples, Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova, shared a joint birth announcement on Instagram Monday. —Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 23 Dec. 2025

Gates said that aspect of the performance was uncharacteristic. —Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Nov. 2025

In a very uncharacteristic game for Dallas Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb, the renowned pass catcher dropped three passes against the Philadelphia Eagles. —James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025

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