unfamiliar

adjective

un·​fa·​mil·​iar ˌən-fə-ˈmil-yər How to pronounce unfamiliar (audio)
: not familiar:
a
: not well-known : strange
an unfamiliar place
b
: not well acquainted
unfamiliar with the subject
unfamiliarity
ˌən-fə-ˌmil-ˈyer-ə-tē How to pronounce unfamiliar (audio)
-ˌmi-lē-ˈyer-
-ˈya-rə-
noun
unfamiliarly adverb

Examples of unfamiliar in a Sentence

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.
Christopher Bailey and Riccardo Tisci’s Burberry struck many as unfamiliar. Julian Randall, Essence, 3 Mar. 2025 This breakthrough allows machines to handle unfamiliar items by generalizing from previous experiences, closing the gap between specialized and general-purpose robots. Janakiram Msv, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 This meant playing in broad daylight to half-empty venues full of hair-metal fans largely unfamiliar with their music, even if Poison and Mötley Crüe probably wouldn’t exist without the Dolls’ massive influence. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2025 Met with language barriers like unfamiliar vocabulary, subject-specific jargon, grammar complexities, pronunciation difficulties, and reading comprehension, ELLs may struggle to fully participate in classroom activities, which, in turn, can lead to feelings of isolation and marginalization. Ethan Stone, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar

Word History

First Known Use

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 9 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

unfamiliar

adjective
un·​fa·​mil·​iar ˌən-fə-ˈmil-yər How to pronounce unfamiliar (audio)
1
: not well-known : strange
an unfamiliar place
2
: not well acquainted
unfamiliar with the subject
unfamiliarity
-ˌmil-ˈyar-ət-ē How to pronounce unfamiliar (audio)
-ˌmil-ē-ˈ(y)ar-
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unfamiliar

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!