uncommon

adjective

un·​com·​mon ˌən-ˈkä-mən 

1

: not ordinarily encountered : unusual

an uncommon plant

2

: remarkable, exceptional

a soldier of uncommon courage

uncommonly adverb

uncommonness

ˌən-ˈkä-mən-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

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

Choose the Right Synonym for uncommon

infrequent, uncommon, scarce, rare, sporadic mean not common or abundant.

infrequent implies occurrence at wide intervals in space or time.

infrequent family visits

uncommon suggests a frequency below normal expectation.

smallpox is now uncommon in many countries

scarce implies falling short of a standard or required abundance.

jobs were scarce during the Depression

rare suggests extreme scarcity or infrequency and often implies consequent high value.

rare first editions

sporadic implies occurrence in scattered instances or isolated outbursts.

sporadic cases of influenza

Examples of uncommon in a Sentence

It is not uncommon for people to become depressed after they retire.

an athlete with uncommon ability

a soldier of uncommon courage

She is an uncommon woman.

Recent Examples on the Web

Such encounters are not uncommon, and NORAD previously announced that a number of Russian aircraft entered the Alaska ADIZ in September. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024

Its position on a subduction zone — where the Indo-Australia tectonic plate moves beneath the Pacific Plate — means earthquakes of greater than magnitude 6 are not uncommon and the country’s buildings are intended to withstand quakes. —Charlotte Graham-McLay, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024

Time Magazine just named Anderson’s work as one of its 10 Best Movie Performances of 2024, Breaking from tradition, Roadside Attractions opted for a public-facing, high-visibility approach to its Academy-qualifying run, openly reporting the gross — a move uncommon among films in similar runs. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 15 Dec. 2024

Although coach Geno Auriemma made his displeasure with the referees known, that output isn’t uncommon for UConn. —Sabreena Merchant, The Athletic, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

uncommon

adjective

un·​com·​mon ˌən-ˈkäm-ən 

ˈən-

1

: not ordinarily found or experienced : unusual

not uncommon to catch a cold

2

: extraordinary, remarkable, exceptional

has uncommon ability

uncommonly adverb

uncommonness

-ən-nəs 

noun