un ‧ u ‧ su ‧ al S2 W3 /ʌnˈjuːʒuəl, -ʒ ə l/ BrE AmE adjective
different from what is usual or normal:
an unusual feature
unusual circumstances
It’s unusual for Dave to be late.
It’s not unusual (=it is quite common) to feel very angry in a situation like this.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adverbs
▪ very/most/highly unusual
Gandhi was a most unusual politician.
▪ extremely unusual
We’ve not had any snow yet, which is extremely unusual.
▪ rather/somewhat/quite/fairly unusual
The design of the house was somewhat unusual.
■ phrases
▪ nothing unusual
There is nothing unusual about the arrangement.
▪ something unusual
We want to know if anyone saw something unusual last night.
▪ anything unusual
Did you notice anything unusual about him?
• • •
THESAURUS
■ events/situations
▪ unusual different from what usually happens:
We had snow in May, which is very unusual.
▪ rare not happening very often, or existing only in small numbers:
Violent crimes are rare.
|
Hatton gathered many rare plants from all over the world.
▪ exceptional /ɪkˈsepʃ ə nəl/ very unusual and happening very rarely:
90-day visas can be extended only in exceptional circumstances.
|
The presence of a jury in a civil trial is now quite exceptional.
▪ out of the ordinary unusual and surprising or special:
It was a small village where nothing out of the ordinary ever seemed to happen.
▪ freak extremely unusual and unexpected - used about an accident, storm etc:
A freak wave wrecked most of the seafront.
|
Their car was crushed by a tree in a freak accident.
▪ unprecedented /ʌnˈpresədentəd, ʌnˈpresɪdentəd/ if something is unprecedented, it has never happened before - often used about successes and achievements:
An unprecedented number of students have received top grades.
|
This kind of deal is unprecedented.
▪ unheard of if something is unheard of, it has never happened or been done before - used especially when something seems very surprising to people at that time:
In our small town, this kind of crime was almost unheard of.
|
unheard-of luxuries such as electric windows and air-conditioning
■ people/behaviour/methods etc
▪ eccentric behaving in a way that seems rather strange but not frightening:
The house was owned by an eccentric millionaire.
|
eccentric behaviour
▪ unconventional very different from the way people usually behave, think, dress etc, often in a way that seems interesting:
His parents had a rather unconventional lifestyle, and let their children do whatever they pleased.
|
His approach to business may seem unconventional, but he certainly gets results.
▪ unorthodox unorthodox ideas or methods are different from the usual ones, and therefore seem surprising to many people:
He is known for his unorthodox political views.
|
unorthodox teaching methods