unusual

Unusual is an adjective used to describe something that is not typical or expected in a given context. It signals deviation from the ordinary, norms, or customary patterns, and it is inherently relative to the situation. An unusual event may attract attention because it contrasts with what usually happens, but it does not carry a claim of impossibility. As a modifier, unusual can apply to objects, behavior, occurrences, or results, and it often appears in phrases such as unusually late, unusually high, or an unusual decision.

Origin and usage: The word unusual is formed with the prefix un- attached to usual, which derives from late Latin usualis via Old French usuel. The term dates to early modern English and has become common in everyday speech and formal writing. The adverb form is unusually, used to describe the degree to which something deviates from the norm. In scientific or journalistic contexts, unusual is sometimes used to denote statistical or conceptual rarity, but it typically remains a qualitative judgment rather than a precise measure.

Antonyms and relation: Antonyms include usual, ordinary, and common. Related terms include rare, atypical, extraordinary, and exceptional, though these carry slightly different connotations. The word often occurs in expressions like "unusual for her age" or "an unusually stubborn problem," where the emphasis is on deviation rather than value judgment.