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unusual

unusual

2.2
Not common and different from what people expect
  • adjective
  • /ʌnˈjuːʒuəl/
translation icon : inusual
  • Finding a four-leaf clover is an unusual occurrence that many people consider lucky.
  • very unusual
  • unusual behavior
  • under unusual circumstances

And that was rather unusual for that era.

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Examples

Synonyms

special
vsunusual
1.0

Made for a particular person, purpose, or occasion

is broader, meaning rarity or deviation not tied to a specific purpose
strange
vsunusual
2.3

Unusual and slightly odd in a way you cannot easily understand

is a broader term that also covers low frequency or rarity
weird
vsunusual
  • Informal
3.2

Strange or unusual in a way that makes people feel uncomfortable

is less intense, covering normal rarity or mild difference instead
different
vsunusual
913 2.0

Not usual and not like what people expect

leans more toward low frequency and scarcity than mere unlikeness
extraordinary
vsunusual
  • Formal
859 3.8

Very unusual or much greater than usual

is milder, usable for simple rare cases rather than dramatic ones
odd
vsunusual
798 1.0

Different from what is normal or expected

is broader and includes rare or not often seen cases too
rare
vsunusual
582 4.1

Not common and appearing in only a few places

also names cases that simply differ from what is normal
bizarre
vsunusual
406 5.9

Very strange or unusual in a way that surprises people

is milder and applies to ordinary rarity rather than shocking cases
curious
vsunusual
131 4.0

Strange or unusual in a way that attracts attention

is more neutral, covering rarity or simple difference without interest
peculiar
vsunusual
123 4.6

Different from what is normal and expected

is broader and can also mean rarity or uncommon occurrence
uncommon
vsunusual
122 4.6

Not often found or seen and so rare

also covers any departure from normal patterns, not only low frequency
unnatural
vsunusual
101 4.1

Not normal or what people expect

is a more general descriptor for rarity or nonstandard occurrence
abnormal
vsunusual
100 4.2

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

is less judgmental and can simply name uncommon or different cases
unconventional
vsunusual
77 6.2

Different from what most people do or accept

is more general and includes any form of rarity or deviation
48 4.1

Not usual and different from what people expect

is broader, applying also to rare or uncommon situations
atypical
vsunusual
27 5.7

Different from what is usual or expected

focuses more generally on rarity and not only on pattern change
anomalous
vsunusual
23 8.1

Not like what is usual or expected

is broader, including simple rare cases that are not technical deviations
irregular
vsunusual
14 3.4

Not following a usual pattern or rule

is the general term for rarity or divergence from normal order
uncharacteristic
vsunusual
14 5.4

Not usual for a person or thing

is more general, applying to all cases beyond personal traits
out of the way
vsunusual
3 6.1

Unusual in a way that does not follow normal rules

is broader and can mean mere scarcity rather than oddity or exception
unordinary
vsunusual
1 7.0

Not usual and different from what you expect

is the general label for rarity or deviation from normal
out-of-the-way
vsunusual
1 6.3

Not usual and often interesting or surprising

is the general descriptor for not commonly seen or expected events
non-typical
vsunusual
4.8

Not usual or expected

is the broader descriptor for rarity or any kind of deviation
non-routine
vsunusual
4.8

Different from the usual way of doing things

is broader, applying to many rare or exceptional cases beyond tasks
outré
vsunusual
  • Literature
9.9

Very unusual and sometimes strange in a way that attracts attention

is less marked and covers general rarity or modest deviation instead

Antonyms

1.0

Happening most of the time in a normal way

797 1.0

Happening often or seen in many places

683 1.0

Normal and not special or unusual

Compounds

Punishment that is very cruel or too harsh for the crime and not allowed by law

The right not to suffer torture or very harsh treatment by the government

How Unusual

bizarre
406 5.9
unusual
2.2
odd
798 1.0
uncommon
122 4.6
ordinary
683 1.0

Surface Forms

unusual positive
unusualer comparative
unusualest superlative

Morphology

unusual = usual (transparent) = un + usual

The adjective is formed by adding the negative prefix 'un-' to 'usual', so its meaning 'not usual' is directly inferable.

Etymology

Unusual is made from the prefix un- meaning 'not' and usual, which comes from an old word for 'use' or what people do often. So unusual means 'not usual' — something rare or different from what people normally expect.