unfamiliar
adjective
un·fa·mil·iar
ˌən-fə-ˈmil-yər 
: not familiar:
a
: not well-known : strange
an unfamiliar place
—often used with toused words that were unfamiliar to me
b
: not well acquainted
unfamiliar with the subject
Examples of unfamiliar in a Sentence
He gets nervous when he is in unfamiliar surroundings.
The book is full of unfamiliar words.
Recent Examples on the Web
According to researchers, the robot, working much like a human navigating an unfamiliar environment, blends reactive behaviors with deliberate planning.
—
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Dec. 2025
The colors are unfamiliar; the flavors are not flashy or sculpted into waves like in other shops.
—Francesco Pacifico, The Dial, 9 Dec. 2025
Aside from the unease of contemplating something unfamiliar, stories involving driverless cars don’t always inspire confidence.
—Eric D. Lawrence, Freep.com, 9 Dec. 2025
The Texans come in at 7-5 boasting the top defense in the NFL, while the Chiefs are in an unfamiliar spot at 6-6.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
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Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Dec. 2025
The colors are unfamiliar; the flavors are not flashy or sculpted into waves like in other shops.
—Francesco Pacifico, The Dial, 9 Dec. 2025
Aside from the unease of contemplating something unfamiliar, stories involving driverless cars don’t always inspire confidence.
—Eric D. Lawrence, Freep.com, 9 Dec. 2025
The Texans come in at 7-5 boasting the top defense in the NFL, while the Chiefs are in an unfamiliar spot at 6-6.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Cite this Entry
“Unfamiliar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfamiliar. Accessed 15 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unfamiliar
adjective
un·fa·mil·iar
ˌən-fə-ˈmil-yər
1
: not well-known : strange
an unfamiliar place
2
: not well acquainted
unfamiliar with the subject
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