unwonted

adjective

un·​wont·​ed ˌən-ˈwȯn-təd How to pronounce unwonted (audio) -ˈwōn- How to pronounce unwonted (audio)
 also  -ˈwən-,
or
-ˈwän- How to pronounce unwonted (audio)
1
: being out of the ordinary : rare, unusual
2
: not accustomed by experience
unwontedly adverb
unwontedness noun

Examples of unwonted in a Sentence

He was surprised by her unwonted cheerfulness. honored for the unwonted courage he showed in battle
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The unwonted activism of the Christian Democratic chancellor met with skepticism in the United States, in Europe, and certainly in Russia. Elizabeth Pond, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2015 As in most wars, the most onerous burden falls on those who did not sign up for their unwonted parts in this great 21st century drama. New York Times, 1 Mar. 2021 But Mr Tucker has brought an unwonted impatience to HSBC. The Economist, 8 Aug. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unwonted was in 1553

Dictionary Entries Near unwonted

Cite this Entry

“Unwonted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwonted. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

unwonted

adjective
un·​wont·​ed ˌən-ˈwȯnt-əd How to pronounce unwonted (audio) -ˈwōnt- How to pronounce unwonted (audio)
ˈən-
: being out of the ordinary : rare, unusual
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