unfamiliar
adjective
un·fa·mil·iar
ˌən-fə-ˈmil-yər 
: not familiar:
a
: not well-known : strange
an unfamiliar place
b
: not well acquainted
unfamiliar with the subject
Synonyms
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
After a 20-minute vertigo-inducing drive up into the Alps, situated next to a field of grazing cows, we were immediately greeted by the lulling sounds of cowbells and an unfamiliar yet friendly face: the hut’s warden, Maurizio Paglino.
—
Annie Archer, Travel + Leisure, 7 Aug. 2024
This essential, but unfamiliar, impulse is inspired by today’s Leo new moon!
—USA TODAY, 4 Aug. 2024
Both men used new and unfamiliar ways of achieving the longstanding goal of pacing their races as evenly as possible.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 31 July 2024
The agency cited instances of patients who were unfamiliar with how to measure doses with a syringe, and health-care providers calculating incorrect doses by mixing up metric conversions, resulting in patients taking five to 10 times more than intended.
—Mckenzie Beard, Washington Post, 29 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for unfamiliar 
Annie Archer, Travel + Leisure, 7 Aug. 2024
This essential, but unfamiliar, impulse is inspired by today’s Leo new moon!
—USA TODAY, 4 Aug. 2024
Both men used new and unfamiliar ways of achieving the longstanding goal of pacing their races as evenly as possible.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 31 July 2024
The agency cited instances of patients who were unfamiliar with how to measure doses with a syringe, and health-care providers calculating incorrect doses by mixing up metric conversions, resulting in patients taking five to 10 times more than intended.
—Mckenzie Beard, Washington Post, 29 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for unfamiliar
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unfamiliar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near unfamiliar
Cite this Entry
“Unfamiliar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfamiliar. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unfamiliar
adjective
un·fa·mil·iar
ˌən-fə-ˈmil-yər
1
: not well-known : strange
an unfamiliar place
2
: not well acquainted
unfamiliar with the subject
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