uncustomary

adjective

un·​cus·​tom·​ary ˌən-ˈkə-stə-ˌmer-ē How to pronounce uncustomary (audio)
-ˌme-rē
: not customary or usual : unusual, atypical
uncustomary behavior
… the nurse returned in a state of most uncustomary excitement …Wilkie Collins
uncustomarily adverb

Examples of uncustomary in a Sentence

has uncustomary grace and poise for a girl of her age anger that was very uncustomary for such an even-tempered man
Recent Examples on the Web In her last years, exiled to the desert due to failing health and lack of institutional support, Wanda passed after an uncustomary silence. Sesshu Foster, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2023 But True Grit, written in 1968 when Portis was 35, was a deeply uncustomary novel for Portis, who had never taken the tall tales of his Southern youth quite so seriously before, and never would again. Scott Bradfield, The New Republic, 7 Apr. 2023 Crowned with a crop of wild curls, Bale takes full advantage of the uncustomary assignment of playing a good-hearted, ebullient type, his generous nature in direct defiance of his misfortunes. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Sep. 2022 After traveling all morning from Colorado Springs and not eating properly or drinking enough fluids, plus pitching in uncustomary heat, Houser said his stomach became upset. Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 18 June 2018 On Wednesday, Israel’s departing ambassador, Eitan Na’eh, received an uncustomary search at Istanbul’s airport in an apparent attempt at public humiliation, including being forced to take off his shoes. Ruth Eglash, Washington Post, 16 May 2018 Sandra makes an uncustomary scene and moves in with her estranged older sister, Elizabeth. Jane Horwitz, idahostatesman, 12 Apr. 2018 Sandra makes an uncustomary scene and moves in with her estranged older sister. Jane Horwitz, kansascity, 12 Apr. 2018 Things are in such a state, the mayor has singled out some most uncustomary targets in the city’s latest drive against prostitution and pornography. Gail Sheehy, Daily Intelligencer, 8 Sep. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'uncustomary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of uncustomary was in 1650

Dictionary Entries Near uncustomary

Cite this Entry

“Uncustomary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uncustomary. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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