un·fa·mil·iar
ˌən-fə-ˈmil-yər 
: not familiar:
a
: not well-known : strange
an unfamiliar place
—often used with toused words that were unfamiliar to me
b
: not well acquainted
unfamiliar with the subject
: 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
Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
Expect loose, watery, urgent stools, usually with cramping when consuming unfamiliar foods.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
And the scale of the challenge — hundreds of thousands of international visitors unfamiliar with North American summer heat — is genuinely unprecedented.
—John Samuels, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Buying prescription glasses online may feel unfamiliar at first, but the process has become far more accessible in recent years.
—Footwear News, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
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Adjective
Supporters say the move is intended to protect workers who rely heavily on gratuities and avoid confusion for visitors unfamiliar with American tipping norms.
—Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
Expect loose, watery, urgent stools, usually with cramping when consuming unfamiliar foods.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
And the scale of the challenge — hundreds of thousands of international visitors unfamiliar with North American summer heat — is genuinely unprecedented.
—John Samuels, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Buying prescription glasses online may feel unfamiliar at first, but the process has become far more accessible in recent years.
—Footwear News, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Cite this Entry
“Unfamiliar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfamiliar. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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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