bizarre

Bizarre is an adjective used to describe something strikingly odd, unusual, or unconventional in appearance, behavior, or form. It often conveys a sense of surprise, surrealism, or grotesque exaggeration, and appears in journalism, criticism, and fiction to highlight anomalies or avant-garde aesthetics.

Etymology: The word entered English from French bizarre, with origins likely connected to Italian bizarro meaning bold or valiant. The exact path is uncertain, but the sense shifted in English toward describing things that are strikingly unusual rather than merely brave.

Usage notes: Bizarre carries a stronger charge than synonyms such as strange or unusual, and can read as humorous, sensational, or judgmental depending on context. In formal writing, alternatives like unusual or peculiar may be preferred. The nuance often emphasizes the surreal, the grotesque, or the irrational.

In culture, “bizarre” appears in discussions of art, literature, film, and popular media to categorize works that defy convention. It is used to describe surreal fiction, strange phenomena, or unconventional styles. The term remains subjective, and what one reader finds bizarre may be simply unconventional to another.