: not frequently seen, heard, or experienced
He gets nervous when he is in unfamiliar surroundings.
an unfamiliar face/place
The book is full of unfamiliar words.
—often + toThe language is unfamiliar to him. [=he does not know the language at all]
Cite this Entry
“Unfamiliar.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/unfamiliar. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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