unusual
adjective
un·usu·al
ˌən-ˈyü-zhə-wəl 
-zhəl;
-ˈyüzh-wəl
: not usual: as
a
: not normal or typical
It's unusual for him to work this late.
b
: different or strange in a way that attracts attention
an unusual design
d
: extraordinary sense 1, remarkable
a scholar of unusual ability
unusually
adverb
unusualness
noun
Examples of unusual in a Sentence
It's not unusual for him to stay late at work.
a scene of unusual beauty
She has an unusual name.
Recent Examples on the Web
Her tendency to put out at least one title a year while also teaching college classes, unusual for a literary author, has required some back-bending from the marketing teams surrounding her.
—
Emma Alpern, Vulture, 17 June 2026
After an unusual break in the series Wednesday — because England and Croatia played a World Cup game across the street — the finale is Thursday.
—Staff, Twin Cities, 17 June 2026
In a highly unusual move, the US Justice Department has urged a federalcourt to throw out a lawsuit against Elon Musk’s company xAI for its use of polluting gas turbines — sparking concerns the government is trying to undermine the ability of individuals or communities to sue polluters.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
What makes Brind’Amour so unusual, however, is his impressive coaching resume.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unusual
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Emma Alpern, Vulture, 17 June 2026
After an unusual break in the series Wednesday — because England and Croatia played a World Cup game across the street — the finale is Thursday.
—Staff, Twin Cities, 17 June 2026
In a highly unusual move, the US Justice Department has urged a federalcourt to throw out a lawsuit against Elon Musk’s company xAI for its use of polluting gas turbines — sparking concerns the government is trying to undermine the ability of individuals or communities to sue polluters.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
What makes Brind’Amour so unusual, however, is his impressive coaching resume.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unusual
Cite this Entry
“Unusual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unusual. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unusual
adjective
un·usu·al
ˌən-ˈyüzh-(ə-)wəl
-ˈyü-zhəl
unusually
adverb
-ē
unusualness
noun
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