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unfamiliar

unfamiliar

104 4.4
Not known or seen before
  • adjective
  • /ʌnˈfɪl.jər/
translation icon : desconocido
  • That new arrival comes with unfamiliar cries and smells and sounds.
  • an unfamiliar object
  • an unfamiliar word
  • an unfamiliar environment

He was creating comfort in a brand new environment, a space that's unfamiliar, stressful, and unpredictable.

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Examples

  • Reddit is a fantastic place to ask questions about unfamiliar subjects and to seek expert advice.

    Academic text (2011)
  • This is an unfamiliar scenario to me.

  • In the lovely world over, there are some unfamiliar terms.

  • Teaching world music can be challenging when working with an unfamiliar style of music.

    Academic text (2011)
  • You are a guest in an unfamiliar home with unfamiliar customs.

  • When what's good for us is unfamiliar, it can take time to adjust to it.

  • Fear's a sensible response to an unfamiliar situation.

  • It's about people figuring out and then conquering an unfamiliar marketplace, right?

  • And for those unfamiliar with the Program, we've obtained a promotional video shown to new members upon joining.

  • You are a guest in an unfamiliar home with unfamiliar customs.

Synonyms

alien
vsunfamiliar
685 4.1

From another place and not familiar there

refers to a person's lack of knowledge, not to origin or place
unknown
vsunfamiliar
629 2.3

Not known or named, often with no name given

focuses on a person's lack of knowledge rather than public anonymity
foreign
vsunfamiliar
401 3.2

Not naturally part of a body or object and coming from outside

is about lacking personal knowledge rather than external origin or source
strange
vsunfamiliar
207 2.3

Not known or familiar to you

refers to lack of prior knowledge without implying oddness
obscure
vsunfamiliar
84 7.0

Not well known or famous

describes personal lack of knowledge rather than general remoteness or secrecy
little-known
vsunfamiliar
34 7.3

Few people know about it

applies to an individual's lack of knowledge rather than public obscurity
unfamiliar with
vsunfamiliar
29 4.1

Not knowing much about something

is the general term for lack of knowledge or past experience
uninitiated
vsunfamiliar
8 8.0

People who do not know about a subject or activity

applies more broadly to not being known or experienced by someone
unaccustomed
vsunfamiliar
7 5.3

Not used to something so it feels strange

describes simple lack of knowledge or prior experience rather than habit
unaccustomed to
vsunfamiliar
4 5.3

Not used to something because you have not done it often

shows general lack of knowing or past exposure instead of routine
unused to
vsunfamiliar
3 4.2

Not familiar with a thing or situation

means not known or experienced rather than focusing on routine
unacquainted
vsunfamiliar
1 6.5

Not familiar with someone or something

describes not being known or experienced by a person
unacquainted with
vsunfamiliar
1 6.7

Not knowing about something because you have no experience with it

is the general adjective used for lacking knowledge or experience

Antonyms

793 1.0

Well known because you have seen or experienced it before

2 1.0

Familiar to many people and easy to identify

Idioms

Not knowing much about something

How Familiar

famous
1.0
well-known
253 1.0
familiar
793 1.0
unfamiliar
104 4.4
unknown
629 2.3

Surface Forms

unfamiliar positive
unfamiliarer comparative
unfamiliarest superlative

Morphology

unfamiliar = familiar (transparent) = un + familiar

The negative prefix 'un-' combines with the adjective 'familiar' in the regular, productive way, so the meaning is directly derivable.

Etymology

Unfamiliar is made of un- ('not') and familiar, which is related to family and means 'known'. So unfamiliar literally means 'not known' or 'not like family', which is why we use it for people, places, or things you do not recognize.