unfamiliar

adjective

un·​fa·​mil·​iar ˌən-fə-ˈmil-yər 

: not familiar:

a

: not well-known : strange

an unfamiliar place

—often used with to

used words that were unfamiliar to me

b

: not well acquainted

unfamiliar with the subject

unfamiliarity

ˌən-fə-ˌmil-ˈyer-ə-tē 

-ˌmi-lē-ˈyer-, 

-ˈya-rə-

noun

unfamiliarly

ˌən-fə-ˈmil-yər-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of unfamiliar

• strange
• new
• novel
• unprecedented
• fresh
• original
• unknown

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

Unlike past World Cups, where travel and unfamiliar environments were unavoidable, this tournament has allowed the USMNT to travel a familiar sporting and cultural landscape. —Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026

Conversion therapy isn’t an entirely unfamiliar topic to the pair, however. —Arushi Jacob, Variety, 19 June 2026

Those scanning the skies over the East River this summer may spot something unfamiliar — a cargo drone schlepping packages between the Downtown Skyport in lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Marine Terminal just south of Brooklyn Bridge Park. —Anne Kadet, Curbed, 19 June 2026

Shinnecock was still a brute of a test, but the red numbers on the white scoreboard were an unfamiliar site for this course. —Doug Ferguson, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing unfamiliar

• unfamiliar with (something)

Rhymes for unfamiliar

• conciliar
• familiar

Kids 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

unfamiliarity

-ˌmil-ˈyar-ət-ē 

-ˌmil-ē-ˈ(y)ar-

noun