unusual

adjective

un·​usu·​al ˌən-ˈyü-zhə-wəl How to pronounce unusual (audio)
-zhəl;
-ˈyüzh-wəl
Synonyms of unusualnext
: not usual: as
a
: not normal or typical
It's unusual for him to work this late.
b
: different or strange in a way that attracts attention
an unusual design
c
: uncommon, rare
saw an unusual flower while hiking
d
: extraordinary sense 1, remarkable
a scholar of unusual ability
unusually adverb
unusualness noun

Examples of unusual in a Sentence

It's not unusual for him to stay late at work. a scene of unusual beauty She has an unusual name.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Other questionable trades Other recent examples of unusual trading have raised questions about people potentially acting on confidential or even classified government information. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026 There are numerous non-Korean producers and singer-songwriters throughout the album, and while this isn’t something unusual for a K-pop release, there’s plenty of overlap with those who made JENNIE’s sleek solo debut Ruby, most notably Diplo. Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026 For more than three decades, Tom Drake, founder of Best At Sea Tours, and the host of his popular podcast, Tom Drake’s Daily Cruise and Travel News Podcast, has built a career shaped by travel, performance, and an unusual stage. Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026 The competition is unusual in that no industry panel or jury is involved at any stage – nominations, shortlists and winners are all decided entirely by the viewing public. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unusual

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unusual was in 1579

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unusual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unusual. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

unusual

adjective
un·​usu·​al ˌən-ˈyüzh-(ə-)wəl How to pronounce unusual (audio)
-ˈyü-zhəl
: not usual : uncommon, rare
unusually
adverb
unusualness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unusual

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster