unusual

unusual — adjective

1. noticeably different from the everyday or expected situation, often giving somet

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

noticeably different from the everyday or expected situation, often giving something a special or attention-grabbing quality

Example

The museum has an unusual collection of ancient bronze mirrors from Southeast Asia.

unusual + noun (collection)

It is unusual for Hiro to arrive late — he is normally first in the office.

it is unusual for [person] + to-infinitive

Common collocations
  • unusual + noun (an unusual sight / unusual circumstances)
  • unusual for [someone] + to-infinitive
  • highly unusual
  • most unusual
  • nothing unusual
  • something unusual
  • seems / looks / sounds unusual
Synonyms
  • rare

    Emphasises scarcity or infrequency; stronger than 'unusual' in suggesting something seldom happens or exists

  • remarkable

    More positive — highlights that something is worth noticing because it is impressive or exceptional

  • peculiar

    More negative — suggests strangeness or oddness, often in an uncomfortable way

  • extraordinary

    Much stronger — describes something far beyond what is normal, often in a dramatic or impressive way

Antonyms
  • ordinary

    The most direct opposite — describes something that is normal and not at all different

  • typical

    Describes something that matches what you would normally expect in a given situation

  • common

    Emphasises that something happens or appears frequently

Grammar Patterns

unusual + noun

it is unusual for someone to do something

something seems / looks / sounds unusual

Usage Note

Common in the pattern 'it is unusual for [someone] to [do something]' to highlight behaviour that goes against someone's normal pattern. Can appear before a noun (an unusual sight) or after a linking verb (seems unusual, looks unusual). The adverb 'unusually' is used before adjectives (unusually hot) rather than as a verb modifier.

Common Mistakes

He is unusual to be late.
It is unusual for him to be late.
The correct structure uses 'it' as a dummy subject, not the person, because 'unusual' describes the situation.
This soup tastes unusually.
This soup tastes unusual.
'unusual' is an adjective used after linking verbs like 'taste'; 'unusually' is an adverb for modifying other adjectives.
Idioms

cruel and unusual punishment

idiom

A punishment that is extremely harsh and not allowed by law in the United States.

The judge ruled that the sentence was cruel and unusual punishment.

Does a life sentence for a minor count as cruel and unusual punishment?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that stands apart from the norm, but they differ in intensity and connotation. 'Unusual' is the most neutral and versatile — it simply means 'not typical', with no strong positive or negative feeling. 'Rare' focuses on infrequency: something that seldom happens or is hard to find (a rare bird, a rare opportunity). 'Remarkable' adds a positive twist — it means 'worth talking about because it is impressive or special' (a remarkable achievement). 'Peculiar' leans negative — it suggests oddness that feels uncomfortable or suspicious (a peculiar smell, a peculiar silence). For everyday use, 'unusual' fits most situations without overstating. If you want to praise something, use 'remarkable'; if you want to warn about something strange, use 'peculiar'. For example: 'It is unusual to see snow here, but the amount we got last night was remarkable. The silence after the storm felt a bit peculiar.'

unusual ↗rare ↗remarkable ↗peculiar ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • nothing unusual
  • something unusual
  • anything unusual
  • it is unusual for... to...

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'unusual' was formed in English in the late 16th century by adding the negative prefix 'un-' to 'usual', which came from Latin 'usualis' (meaning 'of or relating to use or practice'). The Latin root 'usus' (use, custom, practice) also gives us 'use', 'usage', and 'usual'. Originally the word simply meant 'not customary', and over time it developed the extra layer of 'interestingly different' that it carries today.