inusual

Inusual is an adjective that is not standard in modern English. It is typically understood as a nonstandard or historical variant spelling of unusual. In contemporary writing, the preferred form is unusual, and inusual is usually viewed as a misspelling or archaic form rather than current usage.

In usage, unusual describes something that deviates from the ordinary, expected, or typical. It can apply to events, objects, behavior, or circumstances that stand out from the norm. The nuance often implies noteworthy or remarkable difference, rather than simply rare.

Etymology and related forms: unusual is composed of the negating prefix un- added to usual, which comes from the Latin usualis via Old French usuel. The spelling inusual mirrors an older or alternative orthography but is not common in modern dictionaries. Related terms include uncommon, rare, atypical, and extraordinary; while these terms overlap with unusual, they carry subtle differences in emphasis and connotation.

Usage notes: If you encounter inus​ual in current texts, it is most often a typographical error or an antiquated variant. Most readers will interpret it as unusual, and editors typically correct it to avoid confusion. When precision is important, prefer unusual to convey deviation from the norm without implying anything beyond that deviation.