unfamiliar
adjective
un·fa·mil·iar
ˌən-fə-ˈmil-yər 
: not familiar:
a
: not well-known : strange
an unfamiliar place
b
: not well acquainted
unfamiliar with the subject
Synonyms
Examples of unfamiliar in a Sentence
He gets nervous when he is in unfamiliar surroundings.
The book is full of unfamiliar words.
Recent Examples on the Web
Williams, for those who are unfamiliar, started out as a member of the wildly beloved English boy band Take That in the early 1990s.
—
David Sims, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2025
The high casualties are being attributed to the troops being unfamiliar with modern warfare, as well as under orders to commit suicide in order to avoid capture.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
When host Henry Louis Gates Jr. identifies her great grandparents, Saverio and Maria Rosa, Behar admits that the names are unfamiliar.
—Esther Kang, People.com, 13 Jan. 2025
For those unfamiliar with mimosa in perfumery (and many aren’t), picture delicate yellow flowers with a powdery, honeyed sweetness that feels both ethereal and grounding.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unfamiliar 
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David Sims, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2025
The high casualties are being attributed to the troops being unfamiliar with modern warfare, as well as under orders to commit suicide in order to avoid capture.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
When host Henry Louis Gates Jr. identifies her great grandparents, Saverio and Maria Rosa, Behar admits that the names are unfamiliar.
—Esther Kang, People.com, 13 Jan. 2025
For those unfamiliar with mimosa in perfumery (and many aren’t), picture delicate yellow flowers with a powdery, honeyed sweetness that feels both ethereal and grounding.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Dictionary Entries Near unfamiliar
Cite this Entry
“Unfamiliar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfamiliar. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unfamiliar
adjective
un·fa·mil·iar
ˌən-fə-ˈmil-yər
1
: not well-known : strange
an unfamiliar place
2
: not well acquainted
unfamiliar with the subject
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