uncommon

Examples

• All

• In the slums, it is not uncommon to see families of seven individuals sharing one bedroom house.

  Academic text (2008)

• Though divorce was acceptable, it was uncommon after the birth of children.

  Academic text (1990)

• But then that is not an uncommon state for me.

• - It's an uncommon quality in a male.

  Planet of the Apes (2001)

• Also, it's not uncommon for people to switch roles.

• I cannot stress enough how uncommon this is.

• It's actually not uncommon in Silicon Valley now.

• Unfortunately, this scenario is not as uncommon as people may want to believe.

  Academic text (2011)

• Her reaction is not uncommon in families where there has been a self-inflicted death.

  Fiction book (1994)

• It's uncommon to see such a talented artist emerge from a small town.

Synonyms

S

strange

vsuncommon

∞ 2.3

Unusual and slightly odd in a way you cannot easily understand

is less about oddness and more about being rare

U

unusual

vsuncommon

∞ 2.2

Not common and different from what people expect

is similar but emphasizes being rare or remarkable

D

different

vsuncommon

913 2.0

Not usual and not like what people expect

adds the idea of rarity or notable scarcity

E

extraordinary

vsuncommon

• Formal

859 3.8

Very unusual or much greater than usual

conveys unusualness too but usually for rarer, less extreme cases

R

rare

vsuncommon

582 4.1

Not common and appearing in only a few places

adds a sense of being notable or remarkable beyond mere infrequency

P

peculiar

vsuncommon

123 4.6

Different from what is normal and expected

focuses more on rarity and remarkability, not oddness

A

abnormal

vsuncommon

100 4.2

Different from what is usual in a way that may be worrying

is neutral and describes rarity without negative judgment

O

obscure

vsuncommon

84 7.0

Not well known or famous

refers to scarcity of occurrence rather than lack of fame

O

out of the ordinary

vsuncommon

48 4.1

Not usual and different from what people expect

focuses more on being rare rather than merely atypical

L

little-known

vsuncommon

34 7.3

Few people know about it

means rare in occurrence rather than merely lacking recognition

A

atypical

vsuncommon

27 5.7

Different from what is usual or expected

adds the sense of being rare or striking rather than just deviant

S

singular

vsuncommon

20 7.0

Very unusual in a noticeable way

includes that striking quality but centers more on rarity

U

unordinary

vsuncommon

1 7.0

Not usual and different from what you expect

highlights rarity and remarkability rather than simple difference

O

out-of-the-way

vsuncommon

1 6.3

Not usual and often interesting or surprising

is similar but often used more for rarity than exceptionality

U

unwonted

vsuncommon

• Literature

1 9.9

Not usual or expected in a situation

is the common modern way to say something is rare

N

non-typical

vsuncommon

4.8

Not usual or expected

stresses rarity and unusualness rather than mere noncharacteristic status

S

seld

vsuncommon

• Archaic

9.9

Not often found or seen

carries the same rarity but is more modern and common in use

Antonyms

C

common

797 1.0

Happening often or seen in many places

O

ordinary

683 1.0

Normal and not special or unusual

How Rare

unique

3 3.5

scarce

103 4.8

rare

582 4.1

uncommon

122 4.6

unusual

∞ 2.2

occasional

285 2.8

common

797 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology