unfamiliar

1 of 2

adjective

Synonyms of unfamiliarnext
: not familiar:
a
: not well-known : strange
an unfamiliar place
often used with to
used words that were unfamiliar to me
b
: not well acquainted
unfamiliar with the subject
unfamiliarity noun

unfamiliarity

2 of 2

noun

: the quality or state of being unfamiliar : strangeness, novelty
his unfamiliarity with this quarter of the city
an unfamiliarity with the new rules slowed down his play
the unfamiliarity of the scene

Examples of unfamiliar in a Sentence

Adjective He gets nervous when he is in unfamiliar surroundings. The book is full of unfamiliar words.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
And yet, to those who are unfamiliar with its inner workings, the pageant world might appear shrouded in mystery. Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026 Look for unfamiliar accounts or other signs that your information may have been misused. Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026 The levies followed weeks of trade negotiations that broke down, putting the longtime allies on unfamiliar footing. Steve Kopack, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2026 At 6-10 and 250 pounds, Freedom looks like an unfamiliar agitator. Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar

Word History

Etymology

Noun

unfamiliar + -ity

First Known Use

Adjective

1594, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unfamiliar was in 1594

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unfamiliar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfamiliar. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

unfamiliar

adjective
1
: not well-known : strange
an unfamiliar place
2
: not well acquainted
unfamiliar with the subject
unfamiliarity noun
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