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
Injuries have forced players into unfamiliar roles, including Brown, who had to heal from ankle surgery during training camp and then win back his starting job.
—
Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025
To those unfamiliar with its charms, Tennessee's exact brand of magic tends to fly under the radar.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 23 Nov. 2025
Operating in different countries requires navigating unfamiliar cultures, regulations, labor environments and consumer expectations.
—Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 21 Nov. 2025
The Chiefs, meanwhile, sit in third place behind both Denver and the Los Angeles Chargers — unfamiliar territory for a team that has won the division every season since Patrick Mahomes was drafted in 2017.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
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Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025
To those unfamiliar with its charms, Tennessee's exact brand of magic tends to fly under the radar.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 23 Nov. 2025
Operating in different countries requires navigating unfamiliar cultures, regulations, labor environments and consumer expectations.
—Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 21 Nov. 2025
The Chiefs, meanwhile, sit in third place behind both Denver and the Los Angeles Chargers — unfamiliar territory for a team that has won the division every season since Patrick Mahomes was drafted in 2017.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 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 30 Nov. 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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