extraordinary

extraordinary — adjective

1. so unusual, surprising, or impressive that people pay special attention to it or

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

so unusual, surprising, or impressive that people pay special attention to it or talk about it

Example

The chef's extraordinary talent for combining unusual flavours earned her a Michelin star.

collocation: extraordinary talent

It was extraordinary that a ten-year-old could solve a problem most adults found impossible.

extraordinary + that-clause for surprising situations

Common collocations
  • extraordinary talent
  • extraordinary beauty
  • extraordinary circumstances
  • extraordinary measures
  • truly extraordinary
  • absolutely extraordinary
Synonyms
  • remarkable

    similar in meaning but often highlights that something is worth noticing or commenting on

  • incredible

    more informal and emotional; suggests the thing is hard to believe

  • exceptional

    focuses on being much better or greater than average, often in a positive way

  • phenomenal

    emphasises impressive success or scale, common in reviews and achievements

Antonyms
  • ordinary

    normal and unremarkable — the direct opposite, sharing the same root

  • unremarkable

    nothing special or noteworthy

  • commonplace

    happening or appearing so often that it is not surprising

Grammar Patterns

extraordinary + noun

be + extraordinary

so extraordinary + that-clause

Usage Note

Can be used both before a noun ('an extraordinary achievement') and after a linking verb ('the results were extraordinary'). The 'so extraordinary that…' structure is common for expressing cause and effect.

Common Mistakes

The weather today is extraordinary' (used for mildly unusual weather).
The weather today is extraordinary
it snowed in July!' — 'extraordinary' should describe things far beyond normal, not just slightly different.

2. held or called at a time that is not part of the usual schedule, typically about

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

held or called at a time that is not part of the usual schedule, typically about a meeting or election arranged to handle a particular urgent matter

Example

The board called an extraordinary meeting to discuss the sudden drop in sales.

attributive use: extraordinary meeting

An extraordinary general meeting was held on Tuesday to vote on the policy change.

passive structure: extraordinary general meeting was held

Common collocations
  • extraordinary meeting
  • extraordinary general meeting
  • extraordinary session
  • extraordinary election
  • extraordinary congress
Synonyms
  • special

    broader and less formal; does not specifically imply being between regular meetings

  • emergency

    suggests a crisis or urgent danger rather than just a special purpose

  • unscheduled

    focuses on the lack of planning rather than the special purpose

Antonyms
  • regular

    happening at the normal scheduled time

  • scheduled

    planned as part of the ordinary timetable

  • routine

    done as part of the usual procedure

Grammar Patterns

extraordinary + meeting

extraordinary + election

extraordinary + session

Usage Note

Only used attributively (before a noun). 'The meeting was extraordinary' would mean the meeting itself was remarkable, not that it was an extra unscheduled meeting. Common in corporate, political, and legal contexts.

Common Mistakes

The meeting was extraordinary because it was unscheduled.
The board held an extraordinary meeting because of the crisis.
when describing an unscheduled meeting, 'extraordinary' must go before the noun.

3. appointed to a role that exists separately from the regular team or official hie

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

appointed to a role that exists separately from the regular team or official hierarchy, often for a special project or a limited period of time

Example

Dr. Élise Moreau was appointed extraordinary professor of linguistics at the university.

attributive use: extraordinary professor

The government sent an extraordinary envoy to negotiate the new trade agreement.

attributive use: extraordinary envoy

Common collocations
  • extraordinary professor
  • extraordinary envoy
  • extraordinary ambassador
  • extraordinary lectureship
  • extraordinary minister
Synonyms
  • special

    broader and less formal, but can serve a similar meaning in diplomatic titles

  • temporary

    focuses on the limited duration rather than the special nature of the appointment

  • adjunct

    used in academia for a similar kind of additional or part-time appointment

Antonyms
  • permanent

    a fixed, ongoing position rather than a special extra one

  • regular

    part of the normal staff structure

  • tenured

    a permanent academic appointment with job security

Grammar Patterns

extraordinary + professor

extraordinary + envoy

extraordinary + ambassador

Usage Note

Restricted to formal institutional contexts such as universities, diplomatic missions, and government bodies. Not used in everyday conversation. A person holding an 'extraordinary' role works alongside regular staff but is not part of the permanent establishment.

Common Mistakes

He is an extraordinary professor' (without understanding the formal role).
She was appointed extraordinary professor of economics for a three-year term.
in this sense, 'extraordinary professor' is a specific academic title, not a description of teaching quality.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that stands out from the ordinary, but they differ in register and emphasis. 'Remarkable' (B2) is the closest general synonym — it means easy to notice because something is unusual or impressive, and works in nearly the same contexts as 'extraordinary'. 'Exceptional' (B2) leans toward positive quality and often implies superior skill or performance (e.g. 'an exceptional student'). 'Incredible' (A2) is more informal and emotional, suggesting something is so surprising it is hard to believe ('an incredible story'). 'Phenomenal' (B2) emphasises scale or degree of success and is common in reviews, sports, and business ('a phenomenal response to the product'). Choose 'remarkable' for neutral contexts, 'exceptional' for high quality, 'incredible' for emotional emphasis, and 'phenomenal' for achievements or large-scale results. For example: 'The team made an extraordinary effort' (neutral, factual) vs. 'The team made an incredible effort' (emotional, enthusiastic).

remarkable ↗exceptional ↗incredible ↗phenomenal ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • by extraordinary means
  • in extraordinary circumstances
  • to an extraordinary degree

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'extraordinarius' meaning 'outside the ordinary order', formed by combining 'extra-' (outside, beyond) and 'ordinarius' (ordinary, regular, relating to the usual order). The word entered English in the 1400s through French 'extraordinaire'. Originally used to describe anything outside the normal order of things, it developed its sense of 'remarkably impressive' in the 1500s.