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
The sender's name looks unfamiliar, but the delivery seems real. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026 After a tractor-trailer driver died, his dog Hennessy was scared and alone in an unfamiliar state. Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 30 June 2026 For those unfamiliar with web design, this technical cost is comically outsized. Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 30 June 2026 Fredericson urges new ruckers to warm up before each session, hydrate well and tell someone the route when heading into unfamiliar areas. Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 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 7 Jul. 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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