Uncommon (2024)

FAQs

What word means "uncommon"? ›

Some common synonyms of uncommon are infrequent, rare, scarce, and sporadic. While all these words mean "not common or abundant," uncommon suggests a frequency below normal expectation. smallpox is now uncommon in many countries. When could infrequent be used to replace uncommon?

beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable. antonyms: common. having no special distinction or quality; widely known or commonly encountered; average or ordinary or usual.

Something unusual is uncommon. It's odd, weird, or out of the ordinary in some way. Unusual is the opposite of usual, thanks to the prefix un, meaning "not." Unusual things are noteworthy: you don't see them every day. A dog chasing a squirrel is usual.

abnormal, atypical, awe-inspiring, conspicuous, distinguished, eminent, far-out, inconceivable, out of the ordinary, outstanding, prodigious, prominent, refreshing, something else, unfamiliar, unparalleled, unwonted.

1. : not ordinarily found or experienced : unusual. not uncommon to catch a cold. 2. : extraordinary, remarkable, exceptional.

Remarkable, exceptional, out of the ordinary, rare…these are all words that you find in the definition for uncommon.

Rare means that something exists only in small quantities; uncommon simply means that it is not common. So rare is the more powerful word, in the sense that it is very difficult to find. You would have a much greater chance of coming across something uncommon than something that is rare.

extraordinary. unique. bizarre. offbeat. out-of-the-way.

Is common higher than uncommon? ›

Common means ordinary, everyday, widespread, and not rare or exceptional. Uncommon means the opposite — it means rare, exceptional, and not common.

infrequent, uncommon, scarce, rare, sporadic mean not common or abundant. infrequent implies occurrence at wide intervals in space or time.

unusual in American English

(ʌnˈjuʒəwəl ) adjective. not usual or common; rare; exceptional. Derived forms. unusually (unˈusually)

Some common synonyms of unique are eccentric, erratic, odd, outlandish, peculiar, quaint, singular, and strange. While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," unique implies singularity and the fact of being without a known parallel. a career unique in the annals of science.

It's unusual for the trees to flower so early. it is unusual to do something It was a bit unusual to see her up and about before nine in the morning. She has a very unusual name. She hadn't noticed anything unusual about Susan's behaviour.

obscure uncharted undetected undiscovered unexplored unfamiliar unheard-of unknown untraveled. little-known (adjective as in unheard-of)

exceptional extraordinary rare singular special strange uncommon unparalleled unprecedented weird.