uncustomary

adjective

un·​cus·​tom·​ary ˌən-ˈkə-stə-ˌmer-ē 

-ˌme-rē

: not customary or usual : unusual, atypical

uncustomary behavior

… the nurse returned in a state of most uncustomary excitement …

—Wilkie Collins

uncustomarily

ˌən-ˌkə-stə-ˈmer-ə-lē 

-ˈme-rə-

adverb

Synonyms

• aberrant
• aberrated
• abnormal
• anomalous
• atypical
• especial
• exceeding
• exceptional
• extraordinaire
• extraordinary
• freak
• odd
• peculiar
• phenomenal
• preternatural
• rare
• singular
• uncommon
• unique
• unusual
• unwonted

Examples of uncustomary in a Sentence

has uncustomary grace and poise for a girl of her age

anger that was very uncustomary for such an even-tempered man

Recent Examples on the Web

In her last years, exiled to the desert due to failing health and lack of institutional support, Wanda passed after an uncustomary silence. —Sesshu Foster, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2023

But True Grit, written in 1968 when Portis was 35, was a deeply uncustomary novel for Portis, who had never taken the tall tales of his Southern youth quite so seriously before, and never would again. —Scott Bradfield, The New Republic, 7 Apr. 2023

Crowned with a crop of wild curls, Bale takes full advantage of the uncustomary assignment of playing a good-hearted, ebullient type, his generous nature in direct defiance of his misfortunes. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Sep. 2022

After traveling all morning from Colorado Springs and not eating properly or drinking enough fluids, plus pitching in uncustomary heat, Houser said his stomach became upset. —Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 18 June 2018

On Wednesday, Israel’s departing ambassador, Eitan Na’eh, received an uncustomary search at Istanbul’s airport in an apparent attempt at public humiliation, including being forced to take off his shoes. —Ruth Eglash, Washington Post, 16 May 2018

Sandra makes an uncustomary scene and moves in with her estranged older sister, Elizabeth. —Jane Horwitz, idahostatesman, 12 Apr. 2018

Sandra makes an uncustomary scene and moves in with her estranged older sister. —Jane Horwitz, kansascity, 12 Apr. 2018

Things are in such a state, the mayor has singled out some most uncustomary targets in the city’s latest drive against prostitution and pornography. —Gail Sheehy, Daily Intelligencer, 8 Sep. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for uncustomary

• accretionary
• apothecary
• bicentenary
• certiorari
• concessionary
• concretionary
• confectionary
• confectionery
• constabulary
• contemporary
• deflationary
• depositary